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Cataract Questions
General
Questions:
Q.
Does the cataract have to be
"ripe" to be removed?
The best time to
consider cataract surgery is when your vision begins to
effect your daily activities such as reading road signs,
newspapers, or experiencing glare and halos with head
lights.
Q.
Do you remove the cataract with a
laser?
No. Cataract surgery is performed
at GEC by using an ultrasonic, self sealing, no stitch
procedure.
Q.
Will insurance pay for my cataract
surgery?
Most medical
insurance plans will cover cataract surgery but it will
be important for us to check with your insurance companies
regarding the benefits of your particular policy.
On the day of your procedure:
Q.
Do I have to go to the hospital and how long does it take?
We will do your cataract surgery in our ambulatory surgery
centers located in Warsaw, Unity Surgical Arts in Mishawaka,
Allied Physicians Surgery Center in South Bend, or at St.
Josephs Regional Hospital in Plymouth. Although you will be
with us for approx. 2 hours on surgery day, the surgical
procedure itself last about 15 minutes.
Q.
What type of anesthesia do you use?
We will administer a light sedative intravenously, and use
topical drops to numb your eye before surgery.
Q.
Is cataract surgery painful?
No. Pain is not a
typical side effect of cataract surgery. You likely will be
very comfortable throughout your surgical procedure and
recovery process.
After the
procedure:
Q.
Will I have to wear a patch over my
eye?
Generally
you will not have to wear a patch over your eye after
cataract surgery. On rare occasions, the anesthetic may
relax the eye muscles so much that it may make it difficult
to close your eye completely for several hours after
surgery. If this happens, you will want to keep the eye
closed with a small coverlet to keep it from becoming overly
dry. This coverlet would then be removed later that day or
the next morning.
Q.
How soon after surgery am I able to
see?
You should
be able to see almost immediately following surgery however;
you may experience blurry vision for one to two weeks during
the healing process.
Q.
Will I still need to wear eyeglasses
after cataract surgery?
If you need to wear eyeglasses before cataract
surgery you may need to wear them after surgery; however;
the prescription in your eyeglass lenses may change. Your
need for reading glasses may depend on the type of lens
implant you choose. Grossnickle Eye Center can provide
several specialty lenses which can reduce your dependence or
in some cases eliminate them entirely.
Q.
When will I be able to resume my
normal activities?
Most patients resume their
normal activities the very next day.
Q.
Will the eye doctor need to see me
after surgery?
Yes, you will need to be seen for several post-operative
visits to assures us that there are no complications and you
are healing properly. You will typically be seen the day
following surgery, and 2 to 3 weeks later. Many patients
choose to follow up with their family Optometrist. If you
find that more convenient please make our staff aware so
that we can make arrangements for you.
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