A cataract is defined as a yellowing or clouding on the lens of an individual’s eye. The purpose of the lens of the eye is to allow an individual to focus their vision. When an individual is affected by a cataract the individual will have blurry or fuzzy vision. If this has occurred then an individual must have cataract surgery. During cataract surgery the lens of the eye is removed.  While having cataract surgery the lens of the eye is removed and then replaced with a plastic, firm lens implant. Other options that an individual may want to consider before having cataract eye surgery is the use of contact lenses or an individual can wear cataract glasses. The cataract glasses are very thick and are designed to take over the responsibility of the missing eye lens.

Cataract Surgery

The best option though for cataract sufferers is to have cataract eye surgery performed. Cataract surgery greatly sharpens vision once the surgery has been performed. Cataract glasses are known to increase the size of images. This increase in image size may cause an individual to have difficulty walking due to a change in their depth perception. Other individuals may find that contact lenses are very irritating. Plus the individual may have trouble putting the contacts in. Cataract eye surgery is usually the most popular option that is chosen among cataract sufferers.

Cataract eye surgery does not require that an individual has to stay in the hospital over night. An individual is allowed to go home the same day as the surgery. An anesthetic is used to numb the eye and the area around the eye. The doctor will then make a small incision located along the edge of the cornea. The cornea is the clear and tough cover over the front of an individual’s eye. The lens is then broken into several small pieces. The pieces are removed and the implant is placed into the eye.

An individual who has this type of surgery will experience a period of cataract surgery recovery. Cataract surgery recovery depends on the individual and how many cataracts were removed. Cataracts can occur in both eyes or cataracts can occur more than once in the same eye. An individual may have to have several cataract eye surgeries performed.

During the process of cataract surgery recovery an individual will experience some bruising and swelling around the eye. Also, the eye that the individual had surgery on will become very dry and irritated. An individual must put in prescription eye drops in order to keep the eye from becoming overly dry. The drops must be put in several times a day. A person may experience some pain after having cataract surgery. This is just part of the natural healing process.