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Cataract surgery is usually quick (about 15 minutes) and typically done as an outpatient procedure. You'll be given a local anesthetic in the form of drops to numb your eye, you may be fully awake the whole time. In some cases, your doctor may choose to give you additional anesthesia.
Cataract surgery procedure: Easy as 1-2-3
Your cataract procedure will be complete in 3 simple steps:
Step 1: Access the natural lens
A very small incision (~2mm) will be made in your cornea and lens capsule. If you have manual surgery, your doctor will do this with a handheld device. With laser-assisted surgery, a pre-programmed laser will make the incision.
Step 2: Gently remove the cataracts
In manual surgery, the clouded lens will be prepped with a tool and suctioned out for removal. Laser-assisted surgery softens the lens and delivers a precise cut that results in a grid of small, soft pieces that can be gently suctioned out of the eye.
Step 3: Replace with an artificial lens
The doctor will insert a small, rolled-up intraocular lens that will slowly and gently unfold in your eye. The lens addresses blurry vision that resulted from your cataract.
To learn what to expect after surgery, click here