It’s thought that more than half of people over the age of 65 will develop cataracts at some point, meaning that this is a major issue affecting people’s sight. In the early stages of cataracts, they can be managed with glasses or contact lenses. However, as the cataracts progress, cataract eye surgery might be your best option. Read on to find out about some of the most common myths about cataract eye surgery, so you can learn to separate fact from fiction…
Myth: only older people get cataracts
While it’s definitely true that it’s mainly older people who are affected by cataracts, this isn’t always the case. It’s very rare for children to get it, with about 3 in 10,000 UK children being affected – but it does happen.
Myth: the surgery uses lasers
Unlike laser eye surgery, cataract eye surgery doesn’t actually use lasers to carry out the treatment. Instead, ultrasound waves are used in the procedure. The aim here is to break up the cataract using the ultrasound waves so that it can be easily removed and then replaced using an artificial lens implant.
The type of lens implant you are given during your cataract eye surgery will depend on your particular sight problems, and this is something your AVC surgeon will discuss with you. For instance, some patients require a lens to treat astigmatism, while others could need help with distance vision or require multifocal lenses.
Myth: it takes a long time to recover
Some people worry that it will take a long time for them to recover from their cataract eye surgery, but you can actually go home the same day as your treatment. Following the surgery, you are monitored for an hour to make sure you are recovering as you should be, but you are then free to go. You should then start to see improvement in your vision very quickly.
Myth: you have to have an injection in your eye
Having an injection in your eye is something that worries many people, but you don’t need to worry about it with cataract eye surgery. This is because injections aren’t used; you will be given a local anaesthetic in the form of eye drops to make sure you don’t feel any pain during the procedure. Plus, the procedure itself is very quick and there are no sutures required, either, which makes cataract eye surgery minimally invasive and quick to recover from.
If you have any further queries or want to know whether cataract eye surgery could be right for you, please feel free to get in touch with AVC. We’d be happy to help you.
