My Cataract Surgery

I had my left eye cataract surgery done yesterday. I had put it off for a year but it did get worse and started to interfere with my night driving and to some degree with my left side peripheral vision. The procedure was not like I had expected so I thought I would tell you about it in case you may have to undergo this procedure sometime in the future.

This is strictly outpatient surgery. Since you have to get home though, I suggest having your significant other or a friend drive you to and from the clinic or hospital. I suppose in a pinch you can take a taxi each way but it sure calmed me knowing that someone who cared was with me. In my case it was my Wife.

The clinic in which I had the surgery was done was The Maryland Surgery Center in Silver Spring, Maryland. Their staff was extremely polite and reassuring. They gave me a whole bunch of eye drops and started an IV. Up to this point my Wife was allowed to stay with me. As soon as an Operating Room became available, I said good bye to my wife. They rolled me into it where the Anesthesiologist explained what they would give me before and during surgery. It was a local anesthesia and I would be awake during the entire procedure. He explained I would feel no pain during the operation. That was true.

The Doctor came in next and answered any questions I had. I had very few questions at this time. The surgery itself was not bad at all. I would have thought that I would pull away from anything touching my eyeball but this was not the case. They must use numbing drops and then there is an IV which I think just clams you down. I was never unconscious nor high from the anesthesia. I never saw what they are doing because they cover the other eye and shine a bright light in the one they are operating on.

The procedure uses no stitches at all. The whole operation is done using microscopic devices which breaks up the foggy part of the old lens and sucks it up. The lower part of the old lens remains and a plastic implant is inserted. It must be soft plastic rolled up and put in the same tiny opening as the original lens was removed. It is then moved into place.

Fifteen minutes later the operation was completed. The Nurse put a clear, plastic shield over the eye so you won't rub it. She taped it firmly into position. It felt like an eyelash was had fallen in my eye. That was annoying but otherwise I felt no post operative pain other than a minor headache which was handled by 2 Tylenol. Today, it felt somewhat better because the Doctor took the shield off. I still have to wear it at night for a week. For the most part you can see pretty well as soon as the operation is over. It is not as good as the vision in my good eye but the Doctor says it takes a week for everything to heal. Then you can see a major improvement 90 to 95% of the time.

This is the most minor operation I have ever had. If you have to go through this procedure do not become anxious about it. You will not be hurt and healing will be swift.