Cataract surgery is a very common procedure used to treat cataract conditions, which refers to the clouding of the natural lens of the eye, often leading to a decrease in the patient's vision. Cataract, which can affect one eye or both, usually develops slowly, over a long period. Cataract symptoms include one or more of the following:
Patients suffering from cataracts have a problem, especially with reading, driving, and recognizing faces. Although most cataracts are related to aging, the condition is also linked to depression and an increased risk of accidents such as falling.
By age 80, more than half of all Americans have a cataract or have had cataract surgery, and cataract causes 50% of the world’s blindness.
Cataracts can be caused by one or more of the following:
Other factors that can cause cataracts and ultimately lead to cataract surgery include:
Although early cataract symptoms may be corrected by wearing glasses, many people require cataract surgery to regain their vision. They choose to undergo cataract surgery by evaluating various cost alternatives in (usually) private clinics where successful surgeons are involved.
You will experience complete recovery eight weeks after the cataract surgery. The ophthalmologists will arrange follow-up visits to ensure the eye is healing following the operation.
Cataract surgery is a procedure that involves removing cloudy eye lenses and replacing them with artificial lenses to restore clear vision. This procedure is typically performed on an outpatient basis and does not require an overnight stay in a hospital. The surgeon will use a high-frequency ultrasound device that breaks the affected lens and gently removes it from the eye.
Your doctor will begin the treatment by placing eye drops in your eye to dilate the pupil. After this, you will then receive topical anesthesia to numb the area. Some patients are also given sedation to help them relax. Your doctor will decide what’s best for you.
After the anesthesia, the surgeon will make a small incision in your eye to remove the cataract. He/she will place a needle-thin probe emitting ultrasound energy to disintegrate the cataract. Once the cataract is emulsified, the next step will be to use soft suction to remove the cloudy lens.
After the cataract has been removed, the surgeon will implant an intraocular lens into the capsular bag that previously contained the cloudy lens. At this moment you won’t see or feel the new lens, and within a few weeks of surgery, your vision will be very clear.
Most patients report a high satisfaction rate, and cataract surgery has a success rate of 90%.
Procedure | Cataract Surgery |
Duration | 15 - 30 minutes |
Stay | 1 - 2 nights |
Cost in Turkey | €2000 - €3500 |
Anesthesia | Local anesthesia |
Recovery | 4 - 6 weeks |
Final Results | 8 weeks |
Side Effects | Swelling, bleeding |
Risks | Infections, changes in eye pressure, retinal detachment |
Success Rate | 90% |
Exercise | After 1 - 2 weeks |
Back To Work | After 3 days |
Scars | No |
Pain | Slight |
Related Procedures | LASIK eye surgery |
Recent studies show the average waiting time for cataract surgery can span from ten weeks to four years, depending on the location you're planning to receive treatment.
Yes, you will need glasses to correct your vision and to compensate for what the lens can't provide.
Cystoid Macular Edema (CME) is the most frequent complication after uncomplicated cataract surgery.
You may feel pain or soreness after the procedure is done. However, your surgeon may prescribe painkillers to relieve this pain and discomfort.
Cataract surgery is a procedure performed to remove the natural lens in the eye since it causes blurry vision. This natural lens is replaced with a plastic, artificial lens and it is permanent, requires no care, and significantly improves vision.
If there is blurred vision arising from a cataract which makes it a person to do any basic activity with the eyes, it is time to consider cataract surgery and visit an ophthalmologist.