Over the years, proteins build up in the eye and clump together, preventing light from passing clearly through the lens, thus disrupting normal vision. This protein clump is known as a cataract and is a normal part of the aging process. By age 80, more than half of all Americans will develop a cataract. But that doesn’t mean we have to live with cataracts and diminished vision.
When a cataract begins to affect your ability to perform simple, everyday tasks, then cataract surgery can be used to help restore your vision and improve your quality of life.
About Cataract Surgery
Cataract surgery is a painless outpatient procedure that involves the removal and replacement of the clouded lens. Under local anesthesia, your eye doctor will make a small incision on the side of your cornea and use ultrasound vibrations to break the natural lens into small pieces. These fragments are removed and clear, intraocular lens implant (IOL) is put in its place.
When a cataract begins to affect your ability to perform simple, everyday tasks, then cataract surgery can be used to help restore your vision and improve your quality of life.
Cataract surgery is the most frequently performed surgery in the country and has highest success rate of any surgery practiced today. But you want to know when you can return to work.
How Long is Recovery? When Can I Return to Work?
Everyone needs time off to recover after an operation, even a simple outpatient procedure like cataract surgery. However, most patients can resume their normal, everyday function in very little time and can even drive a few days after surgery. In fact, resuming your normal routine sooner rather than later can actually aid your recovery.
How soon you return to work depends on a number of factors, including how quickly you heal, how well you respond to cataract surgery, and the type of work you do. For a more accurate timeframe, consult with your eye doctor – optometrist or ophthalmologist. Recovery can range from a few days to a few weeks depending on your occupation and how well you respond to surgery.
Cataract Surgery with Dr. Samuel Boles
Just because you have a cataract does not mean you need cataract surgery…yet. A consultation with board certified ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles will help guide you through the treatment process and determine when cataract surgery makes the most sense for you.
The Anne Arundel Eye Center (AAEC) is a regional leader in the diagnosis and treatment of cataracts. Dr. Boles utilizes the LenSx® Laser, the most technologically advanced option for cataract patients today, to create a cataract surgery that’s 100% unique to each patient.
If you have any questions about Cataract Surgery or wish to schedule an appointment with Anne Arundel Eye Center (AAEC), please contact Board Certified Ophthalmologist Dr. Samuel Boles, Dr. Kathryn Gurganus Turner, and the eye care specialists here at AAEC by calling 410-224-2010 or by filling out our contact form.
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For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.