| Now it's time to talk about the actual procedure your doctor has recommended for you.
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On the day of your operation, you will be asked to put on a surgical gown. |
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You may receive a sedative by mouth and |
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an intravenous line may be put in. |
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And you'll given eye drops to dilate, or open, the pupil. |
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You will then be transferred to the operating table. |
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To begin, the surgeon will use a special instrument to gently hold the eyelids apart. |
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Then the surgeon will apply an antiseptic solution to the skin around the eye. .. |
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before injecting a local anesthetic. |
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While the anesthetic is taking effect, the surgeon will position a microscope in front of the eye. |
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By now, the pupil will be fully open, or dilated. |
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When the operative field is numb, the surgeon will use the microscope to help make a very small incision just 3 millimeters above the iris. The lens is located just behind the iris contained in the elastic capsule. |
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Next the surgeon will open the top of the capsule and remove the lens. Most likely, your doctor will use a small probe which vibrates at a high frequency. |
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The probes vibrations break the old lens into microscopic pieces ... |
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which can then be drawn out with gentle suction. |
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Through the small incision, the surgeon will then insert the new lens. |
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The lens is actually rolled up inside a special injector, designed to fit through the small incision made above the iris. |
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With the tip of the injector inside the eye, the surgeon slowly injects the new lens where it unfolds into position. |
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Because of the small size of the incision, often your surgeon will complete surgery without putting in any stitches. |
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Vision will gradually improve during normal healing over a period of 5 to 8 weeks. |
