1.What is cataract?
Under normal circumstances, it is transparent and light reaches the retina through it and some refractive interstitial, so that people can see outside objects clearly. Once the lens becomes cloudy for some reasons, it will affect the light entering the eye and reaching the retina, making it difficult for people to see things, and cataracts occur at this time. In other words, the clouding of the lens that produces vision loss is cataract.
2.Cataract surgery and the timing of surgery?
When an ophthalmologist operates to treat cataract, the clouded lens will be removed through surgery. There are small incision lens ultrasound emulsification surgery and large incision extracapsular extraction surgery. The lens of the human eye, in addition to its light-transmitting role described above, also has a role as a convex lens, i.e., a magnifying glass. With this magnifying lens, our human eye can see external objects clearly. As the lens is removed during surgery, the person lacks the lens as a convex lens, which means a high degree of farsightedness of 10-12D. This makes it difficult to see things clearly. Therefore, after the lens is surgically removed, an artificial lens must be implanted, which is often referred to as an IOL implant, to ensure that we can see clearly after the surgery. The purpose of IOL implantation is to correct the high degree of hyperopia caused by the surgical removal of the lens. Therefore, cataract extraction and IOL implantation are two different concepts: two surgeries in one procedure.
Surgery can be considered for vision below 0.5. Cataract surgery is a common ophthalmic surgery, and the recovery of vision after surgery is immediate. However, it must be recognized that any refractive interstitial disorders other than the lens and the optic nerve of the eye can affect the postoperative vision of patients.
3. Can cataract surgery be done for systemic diseases?
Many patients think that the hospital will not perform cataract surgery for them because they have some systemic diseases, so they give up the best time for surgery and live in the darkness of pain, and even have glaucoma and other eye diseases. Some patients are worried that the hospital will not perform cataract surgery on them, so they hide their past medical history.
4. What is the choice of IOLs?
There are many types of IOLs, both domestic and imported; hard and soft; multifocal IOLs, adjustable IOLs, aspheric IOLs and so on. Depending on the patient’s lens condition and the hospital’s surgical equipment, the doctor will recommend a particular IOL to the patient.
The newest type of IOL, the aspheric IOL. Because it mimics a young person’s natural IOL, it differs from the traditional IOL in that its performance is close to that of an ideal, natural lens, thus improving the patient’s contrast sensitivity, especially improving visual function at dusk, at night or in foggy conditions, and overcoming glare when driving at night. This IOL is also a foldable IOL and can therefore be implanted into the eye through a small incision.
5.What should I pay attention to after the surgery?
(1) Pay attention to bed rest, do not shake your head, do not lower your head, do not bend over, do not twist and pull or carry heavy objects, do not rub your eyes or squeeze your eyes, speak softly, and control coughing and sneezing.
(2) After the operation, you do not need to avoid eating, all daily life is normal, but do not smoke and drink. Keep your bowels open, eat more vitamin-rich foods and fruits after surgery. If you have no stool for two days or have difficulty in defecation, you can be given a laxative. Do not chew food that is too hard.
(3) Hands must be washed before and after eye drops.
(4) Cover the operated eye with an eye shield at night to avoid injury to the operated eye after sleep.
(5) The time spent watching TV and reading should be moderated.
(6) Do not allow dirty or soapy water to enter the operated eye for two weeks after surgery, and do not apply pressure to the operated eye (rubbing the eye) for four weeks and prevent trauma. When washing hair, it is best to use a position with the head tilted back.
(7) When going out, wear sunglasses to avoid strong light on the operated eye. Avoid strenuous activities, such as jogging, swimming, tai chi, senior DISCO, etc.
(8) After surgery, follow the doctor’s instructions to go to the hospital for regular follow-up. If your vision is unstable within 3 months after surgery, you should have a refractive power check after 3 months, and if necessary, get a pair of low-degree glasses to adjust your vision at a distance or near to achieve the best results.
(9) Post-operative blurred eyes, mild foreign body sensation and orbital bruising are normal. If there is severe pain in the operated eye and accompanied by headache, nausea, vomiting, etc., timely follow-up should be made.
(10) Some patients develop secondary posterior cataracts after surgery, which affect vision and require laser treatment again. If no IOL is implanted after cataract surgery in young children, timely prescription of lenses and amblyopia training are required, and regular review is required.