Was this surgery recommended by your doctor? Some important information are summarized here about preparation for the cataract surgery, process of the intervention and details of the postoperative care. Cataract surgery is currently one of the most advanced interventions in medicine, it helps restore visual acuity, and may significantly improve quality of life.
Cataract surgery
Structure of the eye
The cornea is the outermost layer of the eye, it refracts the light. This is followed by the pupil and the iris, which control the amount of light. Behind the pupil, there is the lens that focuses the light onto the retina.
The retina translates the light into neural signals, which are transferred to the brain via the optic nerve. Movement and stabilization of the eye is provided by muscles and ligaments located at the outer rim of the eye.
About the cataract surgery:
Cataract surgery is a one-day surgical procedure to restore visual acuity. During the procedure, the cloudy lens is removed through a small incision, and a predesigned intraocular lens is implanted as a replacement. During the surgery, the patient rests on the back. The surgery takes about 15-30 minutes, or may be even longer.
When may this kind of surgery be necessary?
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- If the cataract compromises visual acuity to an unacceptable level.
- If the clouds prevent accurate diagnosis or treatment of fundus abnormalities.
- If the cataract causes inflammation or secondary glaucoma.
- If the surgery is performed for refractory reasons (in case of significant refractive disorder).
- In certain cases of narrow-angle glaucoma, removal of the clear lens may be warranted to significantly decrease intraocular pressure.
Answers from the doctor – What do cataract surgeries look like?
How are cataract surgeries performed?
Specialist consultation: Evaluation of the cataract.
01
Ultrasound design of intraocular lens: Designing the intraocular lens (biometry) is a computer-assisted ultrasound examination, resulting in a personalised intraocular lens design for the patient.
02
Preparation for surgery: Preparation of the patient and administration of local anaesthesia, which eliminates pain during the surgery.
03
Small incision: A small incision is made in the front of the eye.
04
Removal of the lens: The cloudy lens is removed using an ultrasound, called the phacoemulsification method. In this process, the nucleus of the lens is removed in smaller particles rather than in one piece from the eye.
05
Implantation of the intraocular lens: The original lens capsule remains, and it will accommodate the plastic lens, which has a predesigned custom dioptre for each patient. The lens becomes part of the eye, it does not need removal, and the patient does not feel it at all, and it has no expiry date.
06
Leaving the clinic: An eye shield is applied on the eye after the surgery. In case of an uncomplicated intervention, the patient may leave after 3-4 hours of monitoring on the day of the surgery, or the next day. Resting is recommended for that day, you should get up for the most important things only.
07
Follow-ups: After the intervention, usually there will be 4 follow-up examinations.
08
More information
How to prepare for surgery?
Even though cataract surgery is a routine procedure, its safety requires previous patient assessments and lens design. Also further examinations may be warranted for the surgery (such as laboratory and urine tests, and internal medicinal consultation, as necessary).
You may eat or drink before the surgery unless it is performed under general anaesthesia, you have to take your regular medicines, people on a special diet need to continue, it is especially important for diabetic patients. Cataract surgery performed using anaesthetic eye drops is a small-risk intervention regarding bleeding, so there is no need to modify or stop any antiplatelet medicines or blood thinning therapy. You need to inform your treating physician about your regular medicines.
The patient need to have someone to take them home after the surgery, and have to prepare their home to help their recovery.
What to do after a cataract surgery?
What are the advantages of a cataract surgery?
The advantages of a cataract surgery include significant improvement in visual acuity, quick recovery, and better quality of life. Also, patients may resume their everyday activities quickly, and may start wearing weaker eyeglasses or no glasses at all.
What are the risks of this surgery?
Cataract surgery is a safe intervention, however, it may involve some risks. They include infections, bleeding, retinal detachment, and surgical complications, such as injury to the lens capsule. Rarely, the implanted intraocular lens may migrate or may not work properly.
Who is eligible for a cataract surgery?
Cataract surgery is recommended for people with deterioration in visual acuity due to cataract, which interferes with their regular activities. The eligible patients are in good general health and are capable to react well to postoperative care. The treating physician decides whether it is the most appropriate intervention for a patient, according to prior tests and opinion of an anaesthesiologist.
Our doctors performing these surgeries:
Vice-President of the Hungarian Ophthalmological Society.
Main scientific research interests are ocular surface diseases, dry eye, and ophthalmic oncology.
Specialities
- General adult and paediatric ophthalmology problems
- Dry eyes
- Diagnosis and surgical treatment of ophthalmic oncological lesions
- Ophthalmological plastic surgery
- Surgical treatment of lacrimal system diseases
Language skills
- English
Specialities
- Diagnosis of corneal diseases
- Corneal surgical procedures
- Corneal transplants
- Cataract surgical procedures in children and adults
- Correction of myopia in children and adults with night contact lenses
- Primary and secondary care of ophthalmic injuries
- Ultrasound diagnostics and ultrasound biomicroscopy
Language skills
- English
Expertise
- Cataract surgery (implantation of toric and multifocal, premium lenses)
- Surgical diseases of the retina (retinal detachment, macular hole, epiretinal membrane, diabetic vitreous haemorrhage)
- Paediatric ophthalmology
Consultations
- Adult and paediatric ophthalmology specialist care
Language skills
- English
- German
Expertise
- Elülső és hátsó szegment sebészet: szaruhártya átültetés
- Szürkehályog műtétek speciális műlencsékkel is
- Elülső szegment rekonstrukció, szemészeti sérülések, glaucoma
- Vitreoretinal surgery
- Ultrasound diagnostics
- Biomicroscopy
- Ophthalmic injuries
Consultations
- Ophthalmological specialist care
Language skills
- English
- French
Expertise
- General ophthalmology (eye examination, glasses prescriptions, eye pressure measurement, cataract screening, glaucoma screening)
- Retinal disease screening and diagnosis
- Cataract surgery
- Diagnosis of vitreoretinal diseases
- Diagnosis and surgical treatment of vitreoretinal diseases (retinal detachment, epiretinal membrane, macular hole, vitreous bleeding, proliferative retinopathy due to diabetes)
- Treatment of ophthalmological injuries
Language skills
- English
University Adjunct Professor, Ophthalmologist, Paediatric Ophthalmologist
Main areas of interest: uveitis and paediatric ophthalmology. Screening, diagnosis, and treatment of the ophthalmologic symptoms of inflammatory eye diseases and polysystemic diseases. Another important area is paediatric screening, care and, if necessary, surgery. The doctor is fluent in English.
Expertise
- Ophthalmological examinations
- Screening, treatment, and, if necessary, surgery for children (e.g. strabismus surgery)
- Cataract surgical procedures in children and adults
- Correction of myopia in children and adults with night contact lenses
- Examination, diagnosis, and treatment of patients with uveitis using conservative and injection methods
- Study of ophthalmological symptoms in patients diagnosed with autoimmune diseases
- Treatment of ophthalmological injuries
Language skills
- English
Specialities
- General ophthalmology (vision test, ordering glasses, measurement of intraocular pressure, cataract screening)
- Glaucoma
- Pterygium surgeries
Language skills
- English
- Romanian
About our clinic
Mediversal Egészségügyi Szolgáltató Kft. is a private healthcare facility owned entirely by the University of Szeged. Thanks to our unique clinical background, the outpatient and inpatient care we provide and the laboratory and imaging diagnostics we offer are performed by internationally renowned specialists in their fields who are at the forefront of research and innovation, supported by highly experienced staff. In addition to the excellent professional staff, our well-equipped facilities, quality hotel services, and, first and foremost, the customer-centric, personalised care we provide guarantee a complete healing experience.
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