Cataracts are a clouding of the lens of the eye. If you struggle with cloudy vision, difficulty seeing at night, light sensitivity, and seeing excessive glare, you may be experiencing the early stages of cataracts. As the condition progresses, eyesight in the affected eye will be impaired. This isn’t something to ignore because cataracts will not “fix themselves”, they require surgical intervention.
If you think you have a cataract or have already been diagnosed with this condition, it’s time to consider the next steps. Cataract treatment and surgery is a significant choice, so you are sure to have questions and concerns. We want you to arm yourself with the knowledge needed to prepare to get the best surgical outcome. One of the most frequently asked questions about Reno, NV cataract surgery involves whether or not you’ll be able to blink during surgery. Can you? Will it mess things up? Let’s look further into this right now.
Can You Blink During Cataract Surgery?
Just the very thought of having surgery done on your eye may leave you fearful. We want to ease your worries by answering and concerns you have. Many cataract surgery patients often worry about what may happen if they blink during the procedure. Although this is an understandable concern, there is no need to worry. Why? Because you won’t!
Your comfort is our utmost concern. Before the procedure begins, you will be given an oral medication in order to help you relax as best as possible. Before you are taken into surgery, the area around your eye will be cleansed. At this time, special drops will be put into your eye to dilate your pupil. This means the black portion of your eye will become wider, larger, and more open. Once you are settled, our expert team of cataract doctors will begin by putting numbing eye drops in your eye.
These eye drops act as an anesthetic. As you blink, the drops spread over your eye, numbing the surface. This allows you to feel no pain or discomfort during the surgery. When the eye is completely numb, an instrument will be used to hold your eye open while the procedure is completed. This instrument ensures that you will not blink during cataract surgery and your eye is open wide, which is needed for a successful cataract surgery to take place. The procedure itself usually lasts less than 15 minutes and is nearly painless thanks to the numbing drops. It is typically performed on an outpatient basis and does not require an overnight stay in a hospital or other care facility. Our eye surgeons are seasoned experts who get amazing results for our cataract patients. You can trust the experts at Eye Care Professionals!
Get Answers to More Reno, NV Cataract Surgery Questions
To put it as plainly as possible, you won’t blink during surgery. This is because an eye holder gently keeps the lid open during the procedure to prevent blinking. Although this may sound alarming now, you won’t experience any duress when it’s happening because your eye has been numbed prior to its use.
The eye not receiving surgery can remain open or closed during the surgery and will not affect the eye undergoing surgery. Most people prefer to close the other eye, but if you decide to keep it open and watch our team work on your cataract, you certainly can. You can even blink with that eye!
Cataract surgery is one of the safest, most successful surgeries involving the eye. Don’t let any questions or fears stop you from having the life-changing surgery you need. If you have any additional questions regarding your future cataract surgery, we’re here to answer them! Feel free to contact us via our website or give us a call at (775) 322-1000. If you haven’t yet made an appointment for your cataracts, we can handle that at the same time.
