Faculty Comments - Vision Change Case 4 - Answer 10:


Question 10: When would you consider surgery?

Answer:

Simply the existence of lens opacities (not associated with decreased function), is not an indication for cataract surgery. Surgery is indicated depending upon functional level.

Fortunately, however, when it is indicated, cataract surgery is one of the most successful surgical treatments, with about 1.5 million cataract extractions per year in the US (usually with implantation of an intraocular lens). If a lens is not inserted, the patient will need thick eyeglasses). Surgery is an outpatient procedure performed under local anesthetic.

A hard, cataract contact lens
A silicone foldable intraocular lens being inserted
Insertion of foldable intraocular lens and resultant small wound less than 4 mm in length.
Quite a bit different than the 1970 postoperative appearance of an eye with a large wound, 8-0 silk sutures.
 
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