Cataract surgery is a common operation. More than two million people get this surgical procedure every year. About half of the people in the United States over the age of 80 will either have cataracts or have received surgery to remove them. At The Center for Eye Care and Optical in West Islip, our ophthalmologists perform vision screenings to determine if cataract surgery is needed. Our team has gathered some of the questions that we run into regarding cataract surgery.
Most people that get cataract surgery will still need to wear glasses. The lenses are mono-focal, so you can choose near or far vision. There are multifocal lenses as well but none promise you will not need to wear glasses.
Cataract surgery typically takes between 10 minutes and 45 minutes, depending on the type of procedure being performed. The procedure is done under local anesthesia.
We do not perform surgery on both eyes on the same day. It can take several weeks for the eye to fully heal. Since your vision will be compromised for a while, we only perform the procedure on one eye at a time to allow the other eye to compensate.
Light exercise like walking the first week with no bending at the waist is acceptable. Moderate exercise in the second week is acceptable and returning to normal within four to six weeks is advised.
Make an appointment at The Center for Eye Care and Optical for a vision screening and an eye exam to determine if cataract surgery is the right choice for you. Call our team today at (631) 825-7725 or reach us through our website by using our online contact form.