When diagnosed with cataracts, the thought of surgery can be daunting and overwhelming. Surgery of any kind can cause a great deal of stress, but surgery involving the eyes easily triggers a great deal more apprehension, and that’s ok.
For over 37 years our compassionate and experienced ophthalmologist, Dennis Kilpatrick, MD, has provided the highest quality of vision and cataract care in the Scottsdale area, and has performed over 13,000 cataract surgery procedures.
When Cataract Treatment Means Surgery
As we laid out in a previous article, cataract surgery will become a necessity when cataracts begin to interfere with vision and everyday activities. And while it might seem daunting, cataract surgery is actually one of the most common operations performed in the U.S. Dennis Kilpatrick, MD is one of only a handful of surgeons trained to perform both femtosecond laser surgery for cataracts and OptiPlus ORA, which allows instant measurements of the patient’s eye during cataract surgery.
Pain is often a concern for our Scottsdale patients, but with precision and meticulous attention to detail, Dennis Kilpatrick, MD can remove the cataract with little to no pain. After surgery, it is normal to feel some mild irritation as well as possible itching for a few days, but as far as pain you should be feeling very little of it.
Eye drops may be prescribed to prevent infection and reduce any inflammation, and over the counter pain relievers such as Tylenol or Advil can be taken as needed. Cataract surgery itself is very safe, very common, is performed under topical or local anesthesia, and is an outpatient procedure that takes about twenty minutes to perform.
Cataract Surgery Recovery
Recovery after cataract surgery can take a few weeks to a month, but you will see vision improvements nearly immediately depending on the surgery method used. During the recovery period, our doctors will have you make an appointment for a day after the surgery, and then the following week to monitor vision improvements and healing. A final visit is needed 4-5 weeks after surgery.
While you may feel the need to itch or rub your eye, we strongly suggest against giving in to that urge. If needed, the staff at Scottsdale Eye Physicians & Surgeons will ask that you wear protective shield or eye patch on the day of surgery, and absolutely make sure to have someone available to drive you home as you won’t be able to hit the busy Scottsdale streets on your own.
Here at Scottsdale Eye Physicians & Surgeons we offer a variety of cataract surgery options to best suite your diagnosis and situation, from femtosecond laser surgery and OptiPlusTM ORA to Toric Lens and Multifocal lens replacement. If you think you have cataracts, or have been previously diagnosed, we invite you to make an appointment today by calling 480-994-1872 or online here!
