Month: August 2022

A competent eye surgeon will not perform cataract surgery on you without first testing you. Medical test is an integral part in terms restoring one’s health. Therefore, if you see the symptoms of cataracts, some tests will be carried out on you even before you enter the theatre room for surgery.

You might be wondering why you need to know the medical tests involve before cataract surgery sydney. Knowing the medical tests involved in cataract surgery will help you to prepare yourself for the task ahead. So, with the explanation of the medical tests, we will talk about here, you will at least have a clue about the process. 

Also, if you want to know if your cataract surgeon is competent, he would run some tests on you to see the state of your eye health. A qualified eye doctor will measure the visual acuity before telling a patient to register for cataract surgery. He (the doctor) will also examine the pupil, the lids, and lashes. Your doctor will also measure the intraocular pressure.    

Related: Essential things to know before going for cataract surgery

Therefore, in this article, we will explain the meaning of cataracts and what cataract surgery entails. Then, we will move on to explain in detail some necessary medical tests before cataract surgery.

However, you need to do something special. You need to pay attention and shun all distractions right now. Are you ready for the ride? Let’s ride!

The moment you’re seeing some difficulties in your eyes, there should be a cause for alarm. The common signs that one may be battling cataracts are glare of light, if you find it so hard to see at night, inability to read, and astigmatism. A cataract occurs when there is a problem in the cloudy zone of the eye. 

So, cataract begins when the protein in the eye starts to accumulate clumps that can affect the lens from transferring clear images to the retina. Once the lens is affected from transporting images to the retina, one will begin to see some of the symptoms listed above. A cataract does not occur suddenly. It does happen bit by bit, and one needs to rise and do the needful before things get worse. 

What is cataract surgery?

Cataract surgery is the most successful way of treating cataracts. The fact remains that cataract occurs when the natural lens is faulty or damaged. So, once the natural lens is affected, there’s no other way to treat it than to replace the natural lens with an artificial one. And that’s the procedure in cataract surgery. Cataract surgery is the process that involves bringing out the faulty natural lens and replacing it with an artificial one. The natural lens cannot be repaired. Once it is defective, one can only replace it with an artificial one.  Click here to read more about Some exciting facts about nitrile gloves you should know.

Essential medical test before cataract surgery

1. Biometry test: This special test measures the eye’s shape and size. It is unprofessional for a surgeon to carry out cataract surgery on patients without running this test on them. A biometric test is a unique tool to measure or calculate the power of intraocular lens implants for cataract surgery. Dear reader, we want you to know that the moment you hear your doctor telling you that he needs to run a biometric test on you, you should rest assured you’re in the right place. Therefore, please remember that you’ll do a biometric test before entering the theatre room for cataract surgery. 
2. Corneal topography test: This medical test is helpful in exceptional cases. It is a test that must be carried out on patients that wants to undergo laser corneal surgery. A corneal topography test must be carried out on patients before cataract surgery. It is a test used to detect the intraocular lens’s type and power to be implanted. 

3. Blood pressure test: A test that’ll shows the blood pressure must be carried out on patients before cataract surgery. If the blood pressure is high, the surgeon should suspend the surgery. Conducting a surgery when one’s blood pressure is high can leads to complications during the surgery. 
   Bleeding can occur if the blood pressure is high. And that is why competent surgeons will not overlook the aspect of knowing the blood pressure level of their patients before they embark on the surgery procedure. Therefore, if you are advised to undergo cataract surgery to remove cataracts in your eye and the surgeon is not concerned about your blood pressure, we will notify you to visit another clinic. Honestly, some people completely lose their sight because they have high blood pressure. So, when the surgeon made a cut, their blood rushed out with so much pressure. Please take note of this. 

4. Optical coherence tomography test: This test is also essential before cataract surgery. An eye specialist can measure the frontal chamber area of the lens with optical coherence tomography. Likewise, optical coherence tomography can also be used to measure the viewpoint of the lens. Then, with posterior segment optical coherence tomography, the eye specialist will know if there are fluctuations in the macula. This is a vital tool for getting a prediction for the patient. Please note that if the optical coherence tomography is evocative on any macular, then the choice of the lens may likely change. 

Other things that must be done before cataract surgery

The eye specialist would also make sure that the patients are in their right frame of mind. Patients must be ready physically and psychologically. Complications may arise if someone that wants to undergo cataract surgery is not balanced emotionally. So, it is expedient for you to know that after the above-listed tests have been carried out on you, you also need to put yourself together and stay strong. That way, you can avoid complications after and during the procedure.

Also, patients that’ll undergo cataract surgery should not exercise fear. Do not allow the fear of surgery to grip your heart. 

On a final note

Dear reader, we hope you’ve seen something to share with family and friends that are battling cataracts. This article contains the meaning of cataracts and what cataract surgery entails. Then, we discussed the medical tests that’ll be carried out on patients before undergoing this procedure. Finally, if you have a contribution or a perception regarding this topic, please share.  

You don’t just enter the theatre room without knowing some fact about cataract surgery. Of course, you might have been seeing some symptoms of cataract. Then, it would help if you visited your eye doctor for a proper checkup. Remember, you’re going to the eye clinic to converse with your doctor. So, the eye doctor must instruct you or give you direction on what to do. Not all eye problems require cataract surgery. Also, if it is crystal clear that one is battling with a cataract, one should not conclude on doing cataract surgery without first visiting an eye doctor. Even though you see the symptoms of a cataract, that doesn’t guarantee that what you need is cataract surgery. We’ve seen several cases that are not severe. In fact, some doctors prescribed some eye drops to their patients, and they all came back to say something nice. 

However, in this article, we’ll discuss the meaning of cataracts and the importance of cataract surgery; then, we move to the essential things you need to know before going for this procedure. Hence, as a reader, you have a role to play. Please pay attention and follow us closely. 

A cataract is a deficiency in the eye that happens when there’s a gray zone in the eye lens. This eye issue usually begins when the protein in one’s eye creates clumps that prevent the lens from transporting images to the retina. Remember, the retina changes the light that comes through the lens into signals. So, the retina sends signals to the optic nerve before the brain connects with it. A cataract is not something one can hold with levity. If it is left untreated, one can go blind totally.

What is cataract surgery?

Surgery is an aspect of medical practice that treats injuries, diseases, and deformities by physical removal. Also, surgery could be a readjustment of organs and tissues. It often involves a cutting in the body. With that said, cataract surgery is the process of eliminating the lens that is affected. The process does not only include eradicating natural lenses. It also involves replacing the lens with an artificial one. And that is when the process is complete. An Ophthalmologist can carry out cataract surgery. So, this surgery involves cutting and removing the faulty natural lens and replacing it with an artificial lens.  

Things you need to know before undergoing cataract surgery

1. Use eye drops: After you’ve been in the clinic to lodge complaints about your eye health, your eye doctor may likely prescribe some eye drops to you. Make sure you use those eye drops as defined by the doctor. Although, using these eye drops doesn’t mean one will not undergo surgery. The eye drop is a standard medication for everyone battling one eye problem or the other. For instance, your doctor might give you antibiotic eye drops and some other eye drops. Please ensure that you use those eye drops as prescribed by your eye doctor. Don’t be deceived by men’s ideology.

2. Pay attention to the changes in your eye: You’ll begin to see some changes in your eye if you use those eye drops. So, one thing is for you to use your eye drops as prescribed, and another is to focus on the changes that occur during the process. It is expedient for you to know that the changes that occur while using the eye drop is significant. So, you need to pay rapt attention because you need to provide complete details about your eye health to your doctor. This will surely help your cataract surgery procedure.  
3. Talk to your doctor: Before the surgery, there should be effective communication between you and your eye doctor. It would be best to converse with your doctor about how you’re feeling. You don’t just lay back and assume all is well. There’s a tendency for you to begin to see some changes as you start to take some of the medications prescribed to you. And you need to tell your doctor about it. Therefore, effective communication between you and your eye doctor is vital and will contribute to the success of cataract surgery. 

4. Know your surgeon: It is essential to know who your surgeon is before the day of the surgery. You need to know his name, who he is, and how far he has gone in successfully carrying out cataract surgery. You might be wondering if this fact is essential. Some people lose their vision entirely after cataract surgery because an inexperienced surgeon handled their case. Do you want to avoid that? Do you want to have a safe and uncomplicated surgery procedure? Then, you need to know who the surgeon is before entering the theatre room. You can start by knowing his name. If you know his name, you can do research about him to understand what he is up to. You must know if the surgeon who wants to handle your case has been in the game. And that’s the only way to avoid complications. Do not allow an inexperienced ophthalmologist to handle your case. If you permit an incompetent surgeon to touch your eye, complications like bleeding, swelling, and vision loss may occur. We want you to know that this step is crucial. You need to know this before undergoing cataract surgery. 
5. Do not take alcohol: The moment it is crystal clear that you’ll be in the theatre room for cataract surgery, you must avoid taking alcohol. This fact is the root cause of complications after some people have successfully done the surgery. Of course, your eye doctor will tell you this. If you’re addicted to alcohol, you must control yourself and stay strong. Hence, if you want to have successful cataract surgery and you can’t do without alcohol, there’s a tendency that complications will arise after you’re done with the process.

On a final note

Dear reader, there’s nothing more you need to know. The information here is something tangible. That way, one can run with it and share it with family and friends. Finally, we are open to receiving questions and contributions regarding this topic. If you have a contribution, please feel free to share.