You can keep your eyes seeing beautifully with a cataract surgery, especially if the right medications are used during surgery.
Cataracts, which are clumps of protein in the eye that occlude vision, are a common cause of partial or complete blindness, particularly in the elderly. Cataracts can be treated with surgery, but the correct medications need to be used to make the procedure a success.
Surgical Necessity
The proteins in the eye that cause cataracts normally float around freely, but when they clump together, the lens of the eye becomes clouded. As of 2009, researchers had not discovered a non-surgical means to break up the proteins naturally without destroying the other, still free-floating proteins in the eye. Consequently, taking medication and replacing the lens of the eye is the accepted treatment for cataracts.
Eye Drops
One of the first medications you will be given for cataract surgery is an eye drop. The purpose of the eye drops is to dilate the pupil. This relaxes the lens so that it can be more easily examined and removed. Most of these eye drops work by blocking the receptors in the eye muscles that are involved in dilation and controlling lens shape. Atropine is an example of these drops.
Sedatives
Some people become extremely nervous when they have any type of medical procedure. If you are anxious, your eye doctor may give you a gentle sedative to calm and relax you enough to stay still during the procedure.
Local or Topical Anesthetic
A local or topical anesthetic will be administered to make the cataract surgery painless for you. The local anesthetic is given through an injection, while the topical anesthetic typically is given in the form of eye drops. Topical anesthesia tends to be less effective, but it is a good choice if you can't stand the idea of needles.
Your Own Medications
It is common for those needing cataract surgery to be on heart medication or antibiotics. You do not need to stop taking medication before cataract surgery. You should tell your eye doctor what medications you are on and the dosage, so that he can use medication and anesthesia that is less likely to react negatively with your current prescriptions. This also will assist the doctor in prescribing an after-procedure pain reliever if needed, or controlling any nausea caused by the medications used during the procedure.
Tags: cataract surgery, cataract surgery, during procedure, medications used, medications used during, taking medication