Cataract Surgery Cape Town
What is a cataract?
A cataract is a clouding of the lens in your eye. The lens consists of proteins which can denature over time. This decreases the amount of light entering the eye and causes blurry vision or a general decrease in the quality of vision.
What causes a cataract?
The most common cause is age. The clear proteins in the lens denature and turn brown throughout our lifetime, and eventually reach a point where they affect our quality of vision. Other causes such as trauma, diabetes, excessive UV exposure, inflammation in the eye (uveitis) or a strong family history may cause a cataract at a younger age.
What treatment is available?
The most effective treatment for cataracts is an cataract surgery to remove the cloudy lens, and replace it with an artifical clear lens. This lens will remain in your eye lifelong. Diets or drugs have not been shown to slow or stop the development of cataract.
How Does a Cataract Affect Your Sight?
- Blurry vision: You may notice that your sight has become blurry or misty over a long period of time.
- Scattering of light: Certain types of cataract can cause your vision to be worse in direct lighting conditions, such as street lights, direct sunlight and car headlights.
- Change of colour vision: Your colour vision may become washed out or faded.
When Should I Have the Cataract Surgery?
Cataract surgery is only indicated when you feel your eyesight intereferes with your daily life and your ability to read, work or do the things you enjoy. You will be carefully examined to decide if cataract surgery is appropriate for you, and to determine if there are any other conditions that are causing a decrease in your vision.
How is a Cataract Surgery Performed?
Cataract surgery is mostly done under local anaesthetic with intravenous sedation, administered by an anaesthetist. It is rarely performed under general anaesthetic. We will ensure that you are comfortable and relaxed throughout the procedure. You may vaguely see some movement but no details of the operation.
The operation is done with the aid of a microscope and a ‘phacoemulsification’ machine which controls all fuidics in the eye. During a cataract surgery a small incision is made in the cornea; the incision is so small that stictches are not usually necessary. During the operation the lens containing the cataract is removed and replaced with an artifical lens. This lens will remain in your eye premanently. A clear shield will be placed over your eye at the end of the procedure to protect it from accidental rubbing and bumping after the operation.
Preparing for Your Cataract Surgery at Peninsula Eye Hospital
To ensure your cataract surgery goes smoothly, please carefully review and follow these pre-operative instructions.
1. Admission & Arrival Time
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Confirmation: A staff member will contact you the day before your operation to confirm your exact admission time.
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Total Time at Hospital: While the surgery itself only takes about 20 to 30 minutes, please plan to be at Peninsula Eye Hospital for approximately 3 to 4 hours in total.
2. Fasting Rules (NPO)
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No food or drink: Do not eat or drink anything for 6 hours prior to your scheduled admission time.
3. Medication Guidelines
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Routine Medications: Take your usual morning medications with a small sip of water, except for diabetic medication.
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Diabetic Medication:
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Morning Surgery: Do not take any diabetic medication.
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Afternoon Surgery: Take half your usual dose with breakfast.
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Important: Bring all your diabetic medications with you to the hospital.
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Blood Thinners: Please inform us prior to your surgery date if you take blood thinners. It is not always necessary to stop them for a cataract operation, but our medical team must be aware.
4. Medical Aid Authorization
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Pre-Authorization: Ensure you obtain an authorization number from your medical aid before your surgery date.
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What to Bring: You must bring this authorization number with you on the day of admission.
5. Day of Surgery Checklist
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Clothing & Cosmetics: Dress in loose, comfortable clothing. Do not wear any makeup, cosmetics, or perfume.
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Transport Home: Because you will receive sedation, you cannot drive yourself home. You must arrange for a responsible adult to drive you after discharge. Your doctor will advise you during your post-operative visit when it is safe to resume driving.
Post-Operative Instructions: Caring for Your Eye After Cataract Surgery
Your recovery and the healing of your eye post cataract surgery depend on following these guidelines closely. Please read through these instructions carefully to ensure a smooth recovery.
1. Immediate Care & Protection
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Eye Shield: Keep your eye shield on continuously until your post-operative follow-up appointment the next day.
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No Rubbing: Do not rub or press on your operated eye under any circumstances.
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Nighttime Protection: Wear the eye shield every night for one week after surgery to protect your eye while sleeping. Secure it using the special micropore tape provided in your post-operative care pack. (Note: Do not place gauze underneath the shield).
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Caution Around Others: Be exceptionally careful when holding young children or pets, as their unpredictable movements could accidentally strike your eye. Walk cautiously, especially while your vision is adjusted or while wearing the patch.
2. Medications & Eye Drops
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Diet & Regular Meds: You can resume your normal diet and all of your regular daily medications immediately after surgery.
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Starting Eye Drops: Begin your prescription eye drops the day after surgery, only after your first post-operative visit.
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Drop Routine:
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Apply both types of drops 4 times per day.
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It does not matter which drop you use first.
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Wait approximately 5 minutes between the first and second drop.
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Prescription Duration: Your eye drops are designed to last for one month. In case they run out early, a repeat prescription has been included in your care pack.
3. Allowed Activities vs. Restrictions
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Daily Activities: You may read, write, and watch television as normal.
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Light Activity: Gentle activities like walking or light reading are perfectly fine.
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Strenuous Exercise (Avoid for 2 Weeks): Avoid all strenuous activity, heavy lifting, or vigorous exercise for 2 weeks after the operation. This strict restriction includes:
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Lifting heavy weights or gym workouts
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Bending all the way over (keep your head above your waist)
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Jogging or running
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Playing golf or tennis
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Showering & Bathing: You may take a shower or bath after the first day, but take extreme care not to get any water, soap, or shampoo directly into the operated eye.
4. Vision Expectations & New Glasses
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Fluctuating Vision: It is completely normal for your vision to be quite variable or blurry for the first few weeks.
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Visual Sensations: You may notice unusual visual sensations, such as “shimmering” or “streaks” of light. This is standard and expected during the first week of healing.
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Glasses: You may wear your current glasses during the day if they help. If you need a updated prescription, you may have new glasses made 6 weeks after your surgery, once the eye has fully stabilized.
5. Driving Rules
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No Driving with a Patch: Never drive a vehicle while your eye is patched or covered.
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Resuming Driving: You may resume driving after your first post-operative visit, provided that your vision is clear and you feel completely confident and ready.
If you experience any of the following symptoms, please contact the practice immediately (day or night):
- Decreased vision or vision loss. The vision should get better day by day. It should never get worse.
- Pain that persists despite the use of the over-the counter pain medication.
- Nausea, vomiting or excessive coughing.
- Light flashes or significant floaters in your eye.
The above are signs of infection or raised eye pressure. Although extremely rare, if you experience any of these, you need to be seen immediately.
Frequently Asked Questions
What sedation is used for cataract surgery?
Cataract surgery is usually performed under local anaesthetic. An anaesthetist administers intravenous sedation (medication) and monitors you throughout the procedure. Thereby ensuring you remain comfortable, relaxed and without pain. Occasionally general anaesthetic is used; however, this is rare.
How long to fully recover from cataract surgery?
Recovery time from cataract surgery can vary between patients. A week after surgery most people experience minimal visionary distortion and discomfort. By week 6, eyes are usually stabilised enough to have a new pair of glasses made at your optometrist.
How long after cataract surgery can you see clearly?
After cataract surgery it is normal for your vision to be blurry, distorted or unstable for a few days. Clarity of vision usually improves over the first week with minimal discomfort and distortion thereafter. Within 6 weeks your vision should have stabilised.
Can cataracts come back after surgery?
Cataracts cannot grow back after surgery. However, it is possible to develop a cloudiness on the capsule that holds the lens in place. This is sometimes called a “secondary cataract”. This can be cleared with a simple laser procedure in the clinic. Cataracts cannot grow back after surgery. However, it is possible to develop a cloudiness on the capsule that holds the lens in place. This is sometimes called a “secondary cataract”. This can be cleared with a simple laser procedure in the clinic.