How to prepare for a phacoemulsification surgery?

It is important to schedule a consultation session with an eye doctor before going through with the surgery. One of the topics that an ophthalmologist will discuss is the suitability of each intraocular lens (IOL) according to the patient’s eye condition, vision and lifestyle.

Here is a list of the various types of IOLs:

• Monofocal IOL – provides distant vision support post-surgery
• Presbyopia-Correcting IOLs – similar to monofocal IOLs in providing great distance vision while additionally aiding people with presbyopia (an age-related condition that causes a difficulty to focus near objects).
• Toric IOLs – used to correct a vision impairment called astigmatism. Symptoms of astigmatism include blurry vision at varying distances and usually caused by irregularly shaped cornea, and glare.

How does phacoemulsification surgery work?

Once local anaesthesia has been administered near the patient’s eye, a small incision at the edge of the cornea is made by the assigned eye surgeon. an opening in the membrane coats the lens.

An ultrasonic probe is inserted into the opening and used to break down solid cataracts into more manageable fragments. The fragments are then drained out via same probe.

The ophthalmologist will replace the removed cataractous lens with the chosen IOL as discussed during the consultation session. These lenses are injected via injectable delivery system through the corneal incision.

The lens will naturally unfold itself once it has been pushed into the right position. Patients will neither see it nor feel the lens.

A full phacoemulsification treatment can be completed in under 30 minutes, including the administration of anaesthesia.

What to do while recovering from a phacoemulsification surgery

While it is considered safe to drive home following the surgery, patients may still experience mild vision blurring after the surgery. Consider having either a close friend or family member on standby to drive you home if possible. Bring along sunglasses.

Ophthalmologists may also prescribe various medications and eye drops to patients to help prevent inflammation and infection of the eye.

It is common to experience dark spots, discharge, itching and redness of the eye during the initial period of recovery . These are likely to disappear within a few weeks. An eye doctor may recommend patients to take several precautions during this period, such as:

• Using sunglasses when outdoors
• Wearing a night shield when sleeping
• Avoid rubbing or applying pressure on the eyes.

It is recommended that patients continue to attend routine check-ups for at least two months following the surgery. An ophthalmologist will examine the eye for any discomfort, discharge, redness, and other signs of complications during the session.

What are potential complications of phacoemulsification surgery?

The probability of complications following phacoemulsification is low. And if there are any it is usually linked to pre-existing eye comorbidities, much like other cataract surgery. Less than 10% of people who undergo phacoemulsification treatment experience complications post-surgery.

Some of the potential complications include dislocated intraocular lens, glare, or aftercataract. Many of these complications can be treated; it is recommended to consult an eye doctor upon encountering symptoms.

Looking out for cataracts

It is common for cataracts to develop at unexpected speeds. It is recommended to consult an ophthalmologist for a proper eye check-up and diagnosis if you are experiencing common symptoms such as poor central vision, increased glare from lights and gradual onset of blurry vision.