Cataract surgery is typically an outpatient procedure performed in the operating room either at Wills Eye Hospital in Philadelphia or at one of our surgical facilities throughout the Philadelphia region.
Prior to surgery, your physician will examine your eyes to make sure that the cataract is the only reason for a change in your vision. Measurements are performed to determine the strength of the lens that will be placed inside your eye after the cataract is removed. Based on your visual needs, you and your physician will decide together which power of lens (near, intermediate, or distance) would be best for you.
Phacoemulsification (a type of ultrasound) is the most common method used to remove the cataract. A local anesthesia (numbing gel) is placed in the eye, and light intravenous sedation is administered by an anesthesiologist to keep you relaxed and calm during surgery. The eye is cleaned, and the face will be covered with a sterile drape. You should not feel pain in your eye during surgery.
An instrument opens the eyelids. Tiny incisions are made in the front of the eye to remove the cataract. An instrument is used to create an opening in the front part of your cataract and then melt and vacuum the cloudy lens. A small plastic intraocular lens (IOL) will be placed in the eye. The incisions are closed, often without a stitch. The entire procedure takes about 30 minutes.
After surgery, you will be discharged with a clear plastic shield with or without a patch over the operated eye. An adult will need to drive you home since you will have received sedating medications. After surgery, your eye may be sore, and it may feel like there is something in it, like an eyelash. The drops may burn when you put them in, and your eye may water or tear a lot. These symptoms are common but usually are mild and improve for most people after 1-2 days. Tylenol (acetaminophen) is a good option unless you are unable to take this medication. If your eye has severe pain or sudden worsening pain or vision after surgery, please call our office or on-call physician immediately.
Most patients will be asked to use a steroid and antibiotic eye drops to help reduce inflammation and prevent infections after surgery. It is particularly important to refrain from rubbing your eye until the eye is completely healed. Your doctor will provide you with further post-operative instructions.
Patients who undergo a cataract surgery procedure at a Wills Eye facility will usually be asked to return to the doctor’s office the next day for a follow-up visit. Generally, patients can resume their normal activities after this post-operative visit.
You will be given detailed instructions after your surgery that are specific to your eye’s needs. In general, the following guidelines apply:
• The plastic shield should be worn while sleeping for one or more weeks after surgery to protect the eye.
• While outside during the day, sunglasses should be worn to protect the eye from the sun and wind.
• For the first few weeks, avoid strenuous activities (running, lifting more than 10 pounds), deep bending, rubbing the eye, wearing eye makeup, and swimming.
• There are no restrictions on reading, watching TV, using your phone, tablet device, computer, etc, but your eyes may tire more easily during these activities.