Understanding the Different Types of Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an insidious eye disease that can destroy your vision without first presenting symptoms. Here’s what you need to know about the different types of the disease and what we can do about them.
4 Tips to Prepare for Cataract Surgery
Cataracts, a clouding of the lens in your eye, can rob you of clear vision. Fortunately, there’s a quick and easy surgical procedure that can correct the problem.
At Omphroy Eye Care, board-certified ophthalmologist Dr. Luis Omphroy performs cataract surgery for our patients in Aiea, Hawaii, who develop this very common condition.
If you’re scheduled to have cataract surgery, here’s what you need to know about cataracts, including four tips that can help you prepare for your procedure.
What is a cataract and how does it form?
Your eye contains a clear lens near the front that bends incoming light to focus it properly on the retina in the back of your eye. The retina then encodes the information and sends it to your brain via the optic nerve.
A cataract occurs when the lens clouds over, usually from a buildup of protein deposits, making everything look like you’re seeing it through a fogged-up window. This loss of visual acuity can interfere with reading, driving a car (especially at night), or recognizing facial expressions.
Most cataracts develop due to aging or injury; both change the tissue forming the lens. Some inherited genetic disorders increase your risk of getting cataracts, as can previous eye surgery, underlying medical conditions like diabetes, and long-term use of steroid medications.
In addition, as you get older, the lens becomes more rigid, less transparent, and thicker. All three cause proteins and other fibers within the lens to break down and start clumping, making the tissue more opaque.
The cataract may start small, but as it matures, the clouding becomes denser and more widespread. That blocks and scatters the light as it moves through the lens instead of refining the focus. As a result, your vision becomes blurred.
Cataracts generally develop in both eyes, but they develop independently, so your vision may differ between your eyes.
Cataract surgery
The only way to fix a cataract is through surgery, and removing and replacing the damaged lens is considered the gold-standard treatment.
Dr. Omphroy replaces your clouded lens with a new intraocular lens (IOL) to restore your eyesight. Depending on what type of lens you and the doctor decide is right for you, you may not have to wear glasses or contacts following the surgery.
Dr. Omphroy uses the CATALYS™ Precision Laser System for the cataract surgery. Before he starts, he gives you drops that numb your eye so you won’t feel a thing, and he may also offer an oral sedative to help you relax during the procedure. You’re awake the entire time.
Using the CATALYS, Dr. Omphroy makes incisions in the eye and softens the lens to prepare it for removal. He follows this with the state-of-the-art ultrasonic WHITESTAR SIGNATURE® PRO, destroying the old lens so he can remove it safely and completely.
He replaces any removed eye fluid with a saline solution that helps maintain your eye shape. Dr. Omphroy then places a new IOL into the eye to restore your vision.
Tips to prepare for cataract surgery
There are many things you can do to prepare for cataract surgery, but here are four solid tips to get you started.
Keep your pre-op appointment
About a week before your procedure, Dr. Omphroy measures the size and shape of your eye. Doing so helps him choose the right kind of IOL. This is also an ideal time to ask him any questions about what you need to do pre- and post-surgery.
Use your eyedrops
Dr. Omphroy may prescribe antibiotic drops to prevent an infection from taking root. Use them as directed.
Stop taking some medications
Some medications, such as blood thinners, can increase your risk for bleeding during or after the surgery. Tell Dr. Omphroy about all medications and supplements you take, and he’ll let you know which you need to stop before the procedure.
Clean your eyelids and eyelashes
The night before the surgery, and again the morning of, Dr. Omphroy may have you clean your eyelids and eyelashes with baby shampoo. This helps eliminate any pathogens that could lead to an infection.
Are you struggling with clouding lenses that are impairing your vision? Omphroy Eye Care can help. To set up a consultation with Dr. Omphroy, give our office a call today.
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