What Surgery Is Needed for Cataracts?
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Identification
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Cataracts occur in the natural lens of the eye. The natural lens becomes clouded, causing varying degrees of cloudiness or blurry vision. It may also cause glare problems, notably "ghost" vision (when lighted objects have a glow or visual echo).
Function
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The main function of cataract surgery is to remove the clouded natural lens, thereby eliminating visual deficiencies and restoring visual acuity.
Features
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Cataract surgery is a process that involves replacing the eye's natural lens with an implant, technical referred to as an intraocular lens (IOL) implant. There are various choices of implants, some of which correct presbyopia (a vision condition typical of older patients that is characterized by blurred vision during reading, or during any type of focal strain).
Procedure
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Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure performed on one eye at a time. A small incision is made in the eye to remove the natural lens and place the synthetic IOL. AllAboutVision.com reports that this step takes only 10 minutes, although the entire procedure requires at least 90 minutes, plus a brief recovery time at the place of treatment.
Post-Treatment
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Patients must take at least 2 days for recovery, during which the eye must be shielded during sleeping and napping. Results are seen within a week. Ironically, a possible long-term side effect is clouded vision due to the rupture of a soft membrane affected by the surgery. Laser surgery is used to correct this.
Cost
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AllAboutVision.com reports that cost varies by surgeon and type of IOL implant, but that most health insurance plans will cover cataract surgery. However, premium IOL implants have a higher cost that is typically not covered by insurance, and can cost up to $5,000 for both eyes.
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