The optimal moment for cataract surgery, in my opinion as a Charleston, South Carolina, surgeon, is when your blurry vision is making it difficult for you to do the tasks you need or want to do.
A lot of my patients tell me that they should have had the operation done sooner once it has been completed.
That’s your “big picture” response, but you might be wondering if there’s a better month or season for cataract surgery. When planning when to have your treatment, you should take into account the many benefits that winter has to offer.
Take Into Account The Following When Making Surgical Plans:
1. Less Daylight Means More Nighttime Driving.
Driving after dark becomes increasingly challenging as cataracts grow, which is one of the main problems I hear from my patients.
Many individuals just give up driving at night, but that can be challenging if you have a job or need to travel far to see loved ones. Less daylight occurs in the winter, which can be extremely difficult for drivers who have cataracts.
Driving at night becomes considerably safer and less stressful with cataract surgery as it minimizes glare and enhances contrast and clarity.
2. It Can Be Detrimental To Have Hazy Eyes And a Cloudy Sky Together.
Even for those with good vision, driving in the rain can be difficult due to the brightness and blurriness generated by saturated roads and wet windshields.
Because cataracts magnify blurriness and glare with an additional layer of visual obstruction, driving in the rain becomes even more challenging and dangerous for those who have the condition.
You may see well after cataract surgery, frequently for a long distance, which increases your safety when driving in the rain.
3. Winter Is A Better Time To Relax.
You won’t need sutures, patches, or needles for cataract surgery, but you will still need to recover for a few days following the treatment. You should avoid physically demanding tasks and take precautions to safeguard your eyes.
4. It Will Look Better Than Ever In The Spring.
Planning your cataract surgery for the winter is one of the best decisions you can make since it will allow your eyes to heal and restore their vision in time for all the outdoor activities and scenic views that come with warmer temperatures.
Planning cataract treatments for the winter should allow you plenty of time to heal before the brighter seasons, as the majority of people have cataracts in both eyes and the surgeries are often conducted around one week apart.
Following surgery, you will have amazing vision, frequently greater than ever, which will let you enjoy sports and other activities like tennis, golf, fishing, boating, biking, and walking to the fullest.
Advantages Of Laser Cataract Surgery Over Conventional Procedures
Cataract surgery with laser assistance is a more sophisticated process that offers many advantages to patients.
Accuracy
Experts believe that when choosing between laser and traditional cataract surgery, laser surgery is the more accurate choice. With laser-assisted cataract surgery, physicians can achieve more accurate incisions thanks to its sophisticated technology.
Surgeons can create a more comprehensive image of the patient’s eye by using 3D mapping and imaging. This enables them to place prosthetic lenses in the eye more precisely and to create incisions with more accuracy.
Reduces Astigmatism
Physicians can more precisely reshape patients’ corneas during laser-assisted cataract surgery to lessen astigmatism or an unevenly shaped cornea.
Patients undergoing laser cataract surgery might also choose to have astigmatism-corrected Toric lens implants. For patients with astigmatism, laser-assisted surgery may be a more enticing alternative thanks to both of these advantages.
More Seamless Recuperation
Less ultrasonography is needed during laser-aided surgery to fragment the cataract. This may result in a lower chance of problems such as postoperative inflammation, cystoid macular edema, and loss of endothelial cells.
Since laser-assisted surgery softens cataracts before they shatter, patients with hard cataracts may potentially benefit from the operation.
Less Reliance On Glasses
Patients’ dependency on glasses can be decreased by the accuracy of laser-assisted surgery as well as the range of available corrective lenses.
For example, toric lenses can correct for astigmatism, and multifocal lenses can compensate for near and far vision. which will lessen the requirement for contacts and glasses.
Which Procedure Is Best For Me?
The particular demands and choices of each patient about their eye care ultimately determine whether to undergo traditional surgery or laser cataract surgery.
Individuals seeking an easy, affordable, and accessible procedure could be more likely to select standard cataract surgery.
Nonetheless, individuals seeking a more sophisticated choice can choose laser-assisted surgery. This is particularly true for people willing to pay a little bit extra out of pocket to rectify visual issues like astigmatism.
