What is Cataract Surgery?

If cataracts have made your vision blurry or cloudy, cataract surgery can help. Cataracts can occur for a wide variety of reasons. At Visionmax Eye Centre, you will find an eye specialist prepared to remove your cataracts and restore your vision. 

What is Cataract Surgery?

Cataracts occur when the eye’s crystalline lens becomes thicker and denser, making it more difficult for light to pass through. This causes vision to gradually become more and more cloudy. Cataracts often occur with age, but you may develop them at a younger age if you have a medical condition or other predisposition to them. Fortunately, cataract surgery can remove your clouded lens and replace it with an artificial one known as an intraocular lens.

How Does Cataract Surgery Work?

Your cataract surgeon will begin the procedure by using ultrasonic waves to gently break up the cataract, which is then aspirated out of the eye. The surgeon will put an intraocular lens into the space where your cloudy, damaged lens used to be. Intraocular lenses not only give you clear vision again but they can actually correct vision problems to make your eyesight better than it was before cataracts. Intraocular lens options include:

Monofocal Lens

The only lens covered by Alberta health, this lens provides clear distance vision but does not correct astigmatism or near to intermediate vision. 

Astigmatism-Correcting Monofocal Lens

This lens can correct astigmatism and distance vision, but you still may need glasses for near and intermediate vision. 

Multifocal/Trifocal Lens

This lens offers clear vision at all distances, including near vision. It does not correct astigmatism. 

Astigmatism-Correcting Multifocal/Trifocal Lens

Adding astigmatism correction to the multifocal/trifocal lens gives almost anyone clear vision with no glasses needed. 

Extended Depth-of-Focus Lens

Along with an extended range of clear vision, from near to far, this lens also has less night-vision glare than other types of lenses. 

What Results Will I See With Cataract Surgery?

Within a few days, you should begin to notice clearer vision, and this will improve with the healing process. Without cataracts blocking your view, you can enjoy more activities and prevent any further loss of eyesight. 

What is Recovery Like From Cataract Surgery?

For a few days after your surgery, you may experience blurry vision and light sensitivity. Complete healing takes several weeks or months, with individual recovery times depending on your age, health, and normal rate of healing. You will receive prescription eye drops, which you should use as your doctor instructs. You should protect your eyes from any type of stress or pressure during the healing process. 

Am I a Good Candidate for Cataract Surgery?

If you have cataracts, you may be a good candidate for surgery. This minor procedure takes only ten to fifteen minutes and causes no discomfort, so most healthy people make good candidates. If you have health issues, that does not exclude you from surgery, so talk to one of our eye care specialists.

Take The Next Step

To learn more about this treatment, please schedule your consultation by either filling out the form on this page or by calling (780) 452-4111. We look forward to helping you!