Have you been told that you have cataracts? If so, you may be thinking about cataract surgery. This is a procedure that experienced eye surgeons do all the time. Therefore, this is a procedure that should go well, as long as you and your doctor put yourself in the best position possible to be successful. If you want to optimize the success rate of your cataract surgery, what do you need to do? Take a look at a few important tips below, and remember to talk to an eye surgeon about cataract surgery before you sign up for the procedure. That way, you know this is the best way for you to take care of your eyesight and your vision.
Disclose All Chronic Medical Conditions You Have
If you want your cataract surgery to be a success, the first thing you need to do is disclose all chronic medical conditions you have. Some of these chronic medical conditions can make it difficult for the eye surgeon to do his or her job. You need to make sure the surgeon is aware of these conditions so they can be taken into account during a surgical procedure. They might also impact the results of a history and physical, which are important for planning how the cataract surgery will take place.
You should also bring all medications you take with you to the doctor’s appointment. That way, your doctor can take a look at the medications and make sure they are not going to have an impact on the procedure.
Control Conditions Such as Diabetes and Glaucoma
Next, you need to control chronic conditions such as diabetes and glaucoma. One of the most common complications of diabetes is diabetic retinopathy. This is a complication that impacts the blood vessels and retina of the eye. You need to make sure your diabetes is under control. If diabetic retinopathy is not controlled, it can impact the success of cataract surgery.
If you have chronic glaucoma, this is a condition that needs to be treated as well. Glaucoma is a condition that increases the pressure behind the eyes. Your eye doctor should take a look at your eyes and let you know if your glaucoma is under control. If it is not, it will need to be corrected before cataract surgery can take place.
Ask About Ocular Surface Optimization
You also need to talk to your eye doctor about ocular surface optimization. This is the process of taking care of the surfaces of your eyes. Ocular surface optimization is critical because it makes it easier for the surgeon to do his or her job. An important part of ocular surface optimization is using the best materials, such as Prokera cryopreserved amniotic membrane. If you want to improve the quality of your vision after cataract surgery, you need to talk to your eye doctor about PROKERA for Patients. Make sure you understand how ocular surface optimization works. It will make it easier for you to correct your vision through cataract surgery.
Treat Ocular Surface Disease
In addition, if you have been diagnosed with ocular surface disease, it has to be treated before the procedure begins. There are numerous types of ocular surface disease, and treating this condition is an important part of ocular surface optimization. For example, you may be diagnosed with dry eye syndrome, which is a common form of ocular surface disease. Or, you may be diagnosed with blepharitis, which is another common form of ocular surface disease.
An eye surgeon can talk to you about the best ways to treat these conditions. If you can manage ocular surface disease, you make it easier for the surgeon to do his or her job. This also increases the chances of your cataract surgery procedure being a success. Treat ocular surface disease before the procedure.
Listen to the Recovery Tips After the Procedure
Finally, after the procedure is done, you need to listen to all recovery tips provided by your doctor. For example, your doctor is probably going to tell you to wear an eye shield for a few days or weeks. Even though it can be annoying to put this on, it is important for protecting your eyes during the initial stages of the recovery.
Your doctor is also probably going to tell you to avoid putting contact lenses in your eyes for a while. This is also important for reducing the chances of suffering ocular trauma. If your doctor tells you to stay away from contact lenses for a while, make sure you do so.
Your doctor might also tell you to wear sunglasses when you go outside. This is important for protecting your eyes against ultraviolet radiation. It can also have a dramatic impact on the success rate of your cataract surgery.
There are other things you need to do to protect your eyes after cataract surgery as well. For example, you should try to avoid swimming. Getting chlorine in your eyes can impact the success rate of your cataract surgery. You should also try to avoid putting on makeup. Makeup can increase the chances of suffering a bacterial infection during the early stages of the recovery process.
Get Ready for Cataract Surgery
These are a few of the most important tips you need to keep in mind if you are getting ready for cataract surgery. There are a lot of people who have cataracts. As people continue to live longer, cataracts will become more common. Fortunately, there are treatment options available, including cataract surgery.
Even though cataract surgery is not necessarily for everyone, it could be right for you. If you would like to learn more about cataract surgery, you should talk to an eye surgeon about your options. Then, make sure you follow his or her advice. If you follow the advice of your doctor, you should improve the quality of your vision after cataract surgery. This can make a significant difference in your overall quality of life.
I personally know a gentleman who had cataract in both eyes and was told he needed surgery. But as he was self-employed and running a scuba diving school, taking the best part of a year off from work was absolutely not an option for him. So he did a lot of research and found out that cataract is actually a lifestyle disease. He cured it with massive amounts of Omega-3 oil (you need to know how to choose it and how to use it, feel free to get in touch with me if you’re interested in learning more about it!). A year later he went back to an absolutely astonished eye doctor who wasn’t able to find a trace of the cataract he had personally diagnosed 12 months earlier.