When recovering from cataract surgery San Jose patients should enjoy a rapid, successful recuperation. The operation itself is usually carried out in just ten minutes, with the total time in hospital being around ninety minutes. The majority can expect a trouble-free procedure providing they have good overall health and do not have any serious eye conditions. In most cases they should be able to return to their normal routine within a day or two.
If both eyes are affected, they will require separate operations. The eye that is treated first will be left to recover fully before the other eye is treated. A general anesthetic is occasionally used, but most often it will be done using a local anesthetic. This can be given through eye drops, or sometimes as an injection.
This type of operation should not be painful. Although some discomfort and/or soreness may be felt for around 24 hours after the operation. Patients may also experience distorted or wavy vision; this is normal and should only last for a few hours. Other possible side effects include bruising of the eye or eyelid, blurred vision, and aching or itchiness around the eye. If needed, patients can take over-the-counter pain killers such as Aspirin. Stronger medication can be taken if necessary.
An eye patch must be worn for several hours following the operation as the anesthetic is given time to wear off. If the patient is expected to go into strong sunlight during this time, a hat or pair of sunglasses should be worn for protection. The patient will need to arrange to be taken home, and should have someone with them for the day or two following their operation. To guard against infection, an antibiotic may be prescribed. Eye drops to counter inflammation may also be needed.
Patients should be wary of anything that can result in a sudden spike in blood pressure. Coughing, sneezing and laughing can all be problem areas that should be kept to a minimum. In addition, no strenuous exercise and heavy lifting should not be done until recovery is complete.
Scratching and rubbing of the eyes is always potentially problematic, but even more so after being operated on, as this can lead to infection. Patients should also take extra care not to get soap or shampoo into their eyes. Female patients should not wear eye makeup for around six weeks following surgery. Swimming carries a particular risk of infection and should also be avoided during this time.
The overall recovery time is about two to six weeks, although this will vary from patient to patient. As with all surgery, cataract operations do carry a certain amount of risk, serious complications however, are rare. The most common complication is infection, which will usually show up in the first week or two after surgery. As mentioned above, this can be treated with antibiotics.
Cataract operations are routine procedures that are carried out in huge numbers in the United States. The vast majority are successfully completed giving patients a greatly improved quality of life. Having had cataract surgery San Jose residents can rest assured they will get the same outcome and enhanced quality of life.
For the best in cataract surgery San Jose residents can go to the Web at http://www.elliseyeandlasercenter.com. At http://www.elliseyeandlasercenter.com you can find the nearest location in the SF Bay area.