Cataract surgery works by removing the clouded natural lens of your eye and replacing it with a clear artificial lens. The most common method, called phacoemulsification, involves the following steps:
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Anesthesia: The eye is numbed with eye drops or a local anesthetic injection to ensure you feel no pain during the procedure.
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Small Incision: The surgeon makes a tiny incision (usually less than 3mm) in the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye.
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Capsulorhexis: A circular opening is created in the capsule, the thin membrane that holds the lens in place.
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Phacoemulsification: The surgeon inserts a small ultrasound probe into the eye. This probe vibrates at a high frequency, breaking the cataract into tiny pieces.
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Removal of Cataract Fragments: The same probe suctions out the emulsified cataract fragments from the eye. This clears the visual pathway.
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IOL Implantation: A foldable artificial lens, called an intraocular lens (IOL), is inserted through the same small incision. The IOL unfolds and is positioned securely within the lens capsule.
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Self-Sealing Incision: The tiny incision is so small that it typically seals itself without the need for stitches.
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Recovery: Eye drops are prescribed to prevent infection and reduce inflammation. Vision usually improves significantly within a few days.
In essence, cataract surgery is a microsurgical procedure to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with a clear one, restoring clear vision.
