Cataract Surgery Questions

Cataract surgery is extremely effective at restoring vision in the great majority of people. However, in someone who develops a cataract as a result of an injury, it is important to check for any other results of the injury, which may have caused damage to the eye. This may interfere with the return of good vision. Please refer to the Cataract Surgery Section on EyeSearch.

If you also have a history of squint, this could be surgically corrected, but the surgery would be different than that for a cataract. As you know, some eyes that are not aligned may not see as well as the other eye. If this is the case for you, it may also affect the results of your cataract surgery.

A comprehensive eye examination by an ophthalmologist would be able to determine the most likely outcome of treatment and the appropriate recommendations for surgery. Please contact us if you have any further questions.

Question from the Sultanate of Oman
Dear Dr.  I am a 65 year old male with central cataract (right eye vision of 6/60,and left eye vision of 6/24).  I was advised to have an intraocular lens insertion for he right eye first.  I would like to know which method or technique should I use the phaco or the manual insertion, if u could advise me on their advantages and disadvantages and which has a better prognosis.  Awaiting your reply.   Thank you.

Cataract surgery has become a very safe and effective procedure. Most people have excellent results whichever technique is used. Phacoemulsification dissolves the cataract within the eye using a high energy "jack-hammer" type machine. A manual method removes the cataract in pieces without dissolving it entirely within the eye. Under normal circumstances the resulting vision will be equal with either procedure. There are some small risks associated with the phacoemulsification machine that are usually not present when the manual technique is used. However, some people find that their vision recovers slightly more quickly when a phaco procedure is done compared to a manual technique. Which ever technique is used, it is likely that your vision will improve dramatically from its current level.

Additional information is contained in the EyeSearch. section on Cataract Surgery under the Eye Surgery heading.

Question from Georgia
My 75 yr.old father recently had cataract surgery.  Now this same eye is  ultra sensitive to light -- he can't see unless the room is darkened.   However, when he takes an antihistamine pill, the "condition" improves!   His eye doctor doesn't know why or what this is, other than his eye has an allergy!!  What can be done to help my father besides taking antihistamines???

Many people who have had cataract surgery find they have increased light sensitivity immediately thereafter. For some patients this persists indefinitely because more light is getting into the eye. It is interesting that your father responds positively to the use of an antihistamine. While allergies can cause light sensitivity, that is not the most common symptom of allergy in the eyes. If the antihistamine completely cures his symptoms I would recommend continuing it for the duration that it was recommended. However, it would be wise to have his eye re-evaluated by his eye doctor to determine if the medication continues to be necessary, or if there is any other eye condition contributing to this problem. Usually light sensitivity from either of these sources would not be a permanent condition.