When you have a cataract that is causing problems with your ability to do everyday things such as reading a book, driving to work, completing your work, or even comfortably watching television, it may be time for you to visit your cataracts Murfreesboro vision specialist and have something done about it.  By having a thorough examination, your ophthalmologist will be in a good position to help you decide whether or not you need to have surgery to remove the cataract.  If you have one or more cataracts in both eyes, the surgeries will be done separately with a period of anywhere from 4 to 8 weeks between them.  Statistics show that more than 90% of people who have cataracts surgically removed report having better vision after the surgery.

One of the things that your cataracts Murfreesboro ophthalmologist will do prior to the surgery is to measure your eye so that the proper power for the new lens to be inserted in the eye can be determined.  This intraocular lens is implanted in the eye and is usually a small plastic lens.  Most of the time, it is a multifocal lens that is matched for distance vision.

Cataract surgery is most often performed on an outpatient basis by a trained ophthalmologist.  You will need to discuss whether or not you should eat or drink or take your regular medications prior to the surgery.  You should not drive yourself home after the surgery, but should have someone else who can take you.

The surgery is frequently done using a local anesthesia, which means that the patient is awake during the procedure.  The local anesthesia may be administered through eye drops, and if a patient is extremely agitated, a mild sedative may also be given to help with relaxation.  The preparation includes a thorough cleansing of the skin around the eye and it will be held open for the duration of the surgery.  The patient will not see what is actually happening during the procedure, but may see light and movement.  The incision is very small and the cloudy lens is removed and the intraocular lens is put in place.

The surgery does not take very long to perform, and you will also spend a short time in the outpatient area for recovery.  It is important that you follow all post-operative directions given you by your cataracts Murfreesboro vision specialist for the best results.