Life with cataracts can be a challenge. You might find that colors appear duller, your vision is becoming doubled or blurred, and you may have difficulty seeing at night. If left untreated, cataracts can eventually cause you to become permanently blind in the affected eye. To help mitigate and reverse the symptoms of this condition, many eye doctors recommend undergoing cataract surgery.

If your ophthalmologist recommends cataract surgery, you may be curious about what to expect during and after the procedure. Fortunately, the team from Medical Eye Center in Columbia, MD, is here to help. Their eye doctors perform this type of surgery as part of their routine services. Below, they explain what you can expect from your cataract treatment.

The Procedure

Cataract surgery is typically an in-patient procedure that lasts about one hour. During the procedure, your ophthalmologist will remove the affected, clouded lens and replace it with an artificial one. If you have cataracts in both eyes, your doctor may recommend performing surgery on one eye at a time, one week apart. However, operating on both eyes simultaneously may also be an option.

Immediate Side-Effects

Some itching or discomfort is common after the procedure and should lessen within a few days. You may also experience some blurriness for one or two days following the surgery as your eyes adjust to the new lens. Some patients also report seeing brighter, more vibrant colors, but this is the result of the lens no longer being clouded.

Most side-effects of cataract surgery are mild and will dissipate within a few days. However, you should contact your doctor right away if you experience vision loss, eye redness, pain which persists for more than a few days, or there are light flashes in your eyes. These could be signs that the surgery was not successful, or your body is rejecting the artificial lens.

After Care

You may be prescribed antibiotics, eye drops, and other medications to prevent infection and minimize eye pressure. Your doctor may also instruct you to wear an eye patch or protective glasses at night and while you shower. These will prevent infections and keep debris from entering the eye as it heals.

Changes to Vision

Your ophthalmologist will likely follow up a few days after the procedure and again at the one-week and one-month marks. These visits will allow them to assess your healing and progress following the surgery. They may also perform eye exams during this time; it is common for patients to experience changes to their vision.

If you are ready for cataract surgery and would like to undergo the procedure with experienced ophthalmologists, contact Medical Eye Center at (410) 997-9900 to schedule an appointment. For information on other services, including eye exams for glasses and contact lenses, visit them online today.