If You Need to Have Cataract Surgery, Will It Hurt?
Posted on: 20 May 2022
Did you know that almost one in three Australians over the age of 55 may have cataract issues? This is a disease that becomes far more prevalent with age and is often simply a fact of life, although other factors can contribute. If you believe that you have a cataract or have been told by your optician that you may need to undergo a procedure, you'll certainly want to know a lot more. For example, will the procedure be painful or uncomfortable, and does it take long to recover?
Commonplace Procedure
As so many people around the world suffer from this condition, it's not surprising to hear that cataract surgery is one of the more commonplace procedures in the medical world. Cataract surgeons have a great deal of training and experience, and the actual procedure is relatively straightforward.
Understanding Drugs
A cataract is the clouding of the lens that allows your eye to focus on distant objects and send the appropriate signal to your brain. Treatment involves removing the natural lens and replacing it with an artificial version, and the surgeon will make a tiny incision onto the surface of your eye to do so.
Is It Going to Hurt?
Many people are sensitive when they think about eye surgery. After all, they may know that it's uncomfortable when they get a speck of dust in their eye during everyday activity and may begin to wonder if the actual procedure would hurt.
Local Anaesthetics
Thankfully, doctors have access to a range of highly effective and local anaesthetics, starting with eye drops. So, when you arrive at the facility for your cataract procedure, a nurse will administer the drops well in advance, and you may get more than one dose. In some situations, a surgeon may advise an additional injection immediately before the procedure, typically administered into the corner of your eye. As the eye will be numb from the previous drops, you're unlikely to feel that injection and shouldn't feel anything from the actual procedure.
What about Recovery?
Typically, recovery times are relatively low, and you should be able to get back to normal daily life quite quickly. Your surgeon will advise what to do and how best to care for your eye during recovery.
Additional Questions
If you have any questions about an upcoming procedure and want to put your mind at rest, don't be afraid to reach out to the surgeon or their assistant for advice. They will probably have performed this operation many times and will be able to walk you through the day ahead.
For more info about cataract surgery, contact a local surgeon.
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