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Pre-Operative Eye Care
What are the pre-op requirements?
Patients need to be in reasonably good general health. Diabetes or hypertension need to be controlled before surgery. Patients need to get their eyes scanned to determine the curvature and length of their eyes in order to decide the model and power of the intra-ocular lens to be implanted.
Post-Operative Eye Care:
Is there a lot of discomfort or pain after surgery?
Cataract surgery is pretty much painless, and so is the post-operative period. In fact patients can even work the day after surgery. There might be mild irritation, or a‘ foreign body’ sensation for a few days. Mild redness and watering of the eyes may be noticed, which too will subside in a few days
Can I take my routine medications on the day of surgery?
Please consult your doctor to confirm if there is any need to stop the routine medications that you are on.
What can one expect on the day of surgery?
Cataract surgery is a‘ walk-in and walk-out’ procedure. It is done under topical anaesthesia. Anaesthetic drops numb the surface of the eye and the surgery can be comfortably and painlessly performed.
The procedure lasts approximately 10 minutes excluding the preparation time of a similar duration. Pre-operative dilating drops are applied, which take about 1-1.5 hours to take effect. The patient can expect to spend close to half a day at the hospital on the day of surgery.
What is the post-operative treatment?
There is a graded schedule for eye drops post surgery and the patients are advised to put these drops as per their eye doctor’ s instructions.
Are there any post-operative restrictions?
Dusty and polluted work environments are to be avoided at least for a month after surgery. The patient needs to prevent water from coming in direct contact with the eye for at least 10 days after surgery. However, they can properly sponge their hair and face on the day after surgery. Bathing can be resumed after a day as well.
When can I see properly?
Vision will be bright and clear a day after surgery. Full vision will be restored gradually after a few days. Certain objects may seem excessively bright and blue in color for a couple of days, but this will disappear within few days.
Will I need glasses after surgery?
There may remain a possibility of minor errors in IOL power. This may leave residual spectacle power, which can be corrected with glasses.
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