Myth: Cataract surgery is unsafe. Fact: Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most highly perfected surgical procedures in medicine, with a more than 98% success rate.
Myth: You have no control over the development of cataracts. Fact: Although everyone will develop cataracts if they get old enough you could postpone it by ‘n few years by wearing sunglasses.
Myth: Cataract surgery is painful and risky. Fact: Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most highly perfected surgical procedures in medicine, with a more than 95 percent success rate.
Myth#3: Cataract surgery is painful. Fact: Most patients claim that cataract surgery is pain-free. The procedure is rendered pain free, as medication is used to maximise your comfort throughout cataract surgery. Both numbing eye drops and a sedative is often used. Even though you are not under general anaesthesia like with other surgical procedures, you are most likely not even going to remember much of your cataract surgery. As your medications wear off after the procedure, you might feel some minor eye discomfort. This can be managed with mild pain medication and eye drops that will be prescribed after surgery.
Myth: You cannot fly after cataract surgery. Fact: You can fly the day after cataract surgery
Myth #1: You have to wear glasses permanently after cataract surgery Fact: Spectacle independence after cataract surgery is possible As with many technologies, like cell phones, technical advances in cataract surgery and implantable lens technology have been rapid. Due to Refractive Laser Assisted Cataract Surgery (RELACS) and multifocal lenses, the optical results after modern cataract surgery have dramatically improved. Based on the scientific literature 90% of individuals who had multifocal lens implants do not require spectacles either for distance, intermediate or near vision. You will however still need them for certain tasks like prolonged reading.
The short answer is: Yes! Cataracts are a PMB (Prescribed Minimum Benefit) condition. This means that medical aids are by law required to cover basic cataract surgery.
The natural lens inside your eye is clear and flexible when you are born. Light should pass through the lens without scatter, glare, faded colour or blurry vision. It’s flexibility also allows it to change shape to focus on near, intermediate and far objects. The lens slowly looses its clarity and flexibility.
Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most highly perfected surgical procedures in medicine, with a more than 98% success rate. Most problems can be treated successfully.
When your ophthalmologist discusses lens options with you, he/ she will take your lifestyle and anatomy of your eyes into account to choose the best option for you.
14 Hertz Boulevard
Vanderbijlpark 1911
South Africa
14 Hertz Boulevard
Vanderbijlpark 1911
South Africa
