The day of cataract surgery is sure to be full of excitement and maybe even some nerves. Our staff and doctor are commited to providing you with the most tender, hands-on care that you deserve. When you arrive to the eye surgery center, a staff member will greet you and review your intake paperwork. Please wear comfortable, loose fitting clothing, as you most likely will remain in them. The next step is pre-op dilating eye drops and anesthetic eye drops. The use of eye drop anesthesia is sufficient for most cataract patients, with many saying they felt nothing at all. You will then meet your anesthesiologist, who will begin the process of relaxing you with medication. It is important to know that although you will be very relaxed and you may not remember the procedure, you will be awake and in full control of your eyes.
You will then be moved into the operating room. In preparation for your surgery the operating room nurse will clean your eye. A sterile drape will be placed around the eye to be operated on. You will have plenty of air to breath.
To begin your surgery, Dr. Duzman will place a very small incision at the outermost edge of the cornea. The small size and position of this incision makes it “self sealing” and rarely requires stitches for it to heal properly. The incision is just large enough to allow a precise microsurgical instrument about the size of a pen tip to pass through it. This is a sophisticated surgical instrument that generates high frequency sound waves-or ultrasound. By inserting the instrument through the tiny incision, the surgeon can use ultrasound to gently break apart your cataract so that it can be washed away and removed from your eye. This surgical technique is called “phacoemulsification”. Phacoemulsification is the preferred technique to remove the vast majority of cataracts in the United States today. Dr. Duzman will then place the specific lens that was chosen for you into your eye.
During your cataract surgery you will be aware of your surrounding, but you will not be able to see images or the surgery being performed. Expect to see team members in scrub uniforms and surgical gowns wearing masks to protect the sterile area. Your surgery should take less than 15 minutes on average, and we anticipate minimal discomfort. If you happen to experience pain during your surgery, please tell Dr. Duzman. Your surgeon will complete the surgery by placing some antibiotic drops and possibly some anti-inflammatory drops in your eye to prevent infection and swelling.
Upon completion of your cataract and lens implant surgery, you will be taken to a post operative area to rest before going home. After resting for a short while, a surgery staff member will discharge you to you caregiver. Please take your prescribed medications as directed. Dr. Duzman will go over these medications with you at every visit. Dr. Duzman will follow you as necessary after surgery to assure optimal results. You should expect significant visual improvement within the first few days after surgery. Complete healing may take up to a month.
An Important Note About Cataract Surgery
A significant number of men in their 50’s and 60’s and beyond experience an enlarged prostate as part of the aging process. Today, many of men are taking the prescription medication Flomax or other similar medications that are members of the class of drugs called “alpha-agonists”.
IT IS VERY IMPORTANT THAT YOU NOTIFY YOUR SURGEON BEFORE YOU HAVE CATARACT SURGERY IF YOU ARE TAKING ANY MEDICATION FOR AN ENLARGED PROSTATE