Before cataract surgery, it’s necessary to conduct an electrocardiogram (EKG) test, as well as get a complete blood count (CBC), blood sugar level test, and a urine analysis.
Cataract surgery is a painless surgical procedure. The eye is anesthetized with drops before the operation, so local anesthesia is applied, and during the operation, a small pressure in the eye may be felt, which the patient is warned about. The patient is fully awake, aware, and cooperative during the surgery.
At the time when the patient is scheduled, the preoperative examination and dilation of the pupils before surgery begin. This takes about 30 minutes. After this, the patient proceeds to the operation, which lasts about 10 minutes. After the operation, there is a brief rest period, and the patient leaves our clinic.
All limitations are discussed with the patient during preoperative preparation and at the check-up, i.e., the morning after the operation. It’s necessary to follow the instructions for using the required therapy. The operated eye should not be washed or rinsed for at least 7 days postoperatively, as tap water can sometimes contain impurities and microorganisms, and the eye has a fresh surgical wound. If necessary, the eye can be gently rinsed with artificial tears or a saline solution. The eye should not be rubbed or touched with hands. For the first 7 to 10 days, it’s necessary to protect the eye with darker glasses when going outside and avoid wind, smoke, dust, cooking steam, and cleaning product fumes. It is recommended not to lift heavy loads, not to stay in a bent position for a long time, and avoid intense gymnastics, swimming pools, spas, and saunas, all of which should be avoided for the first month after the procedure. After the first month, there are no restrictions.
Watching television, using a computer, driving, and reading are allowed when you feel confident and when nothing bothers you, irritates, or burns your eye. You are the best judge for this yourself.
In the past, cataracts were operated on using a traditional method which involved squeezing the cataract out of the eye in one piece through a large incision with instruments. Therefore, it was desirable for the cataract to be as hard and dense as possible. This was a significant trauma to the eye and the operation concluded with the placement of a large stitch on the made incision. The modern technology we use at the ‘Dr Kozomara’ Special Hospital for Ophthalmology enables cataract removal by ultrasound method, which is minimally invasive for the eye and ensures quicker vision recovery. An incision smaller than 3 mm (sometimes even 2 mm) is made on the eye, through which an ultrasound probe enters that dissolves and aspirates the cataract from the eye, and an artificial lens is immediately inserted. The softer the cataract, the less ultrasound power is needed; conversely, the harder it is, the more ultrasound must be applied which can sometimes mean a slightly slower recovery.
The desired result of visual acuity after cataract surgery is for the patient to see as well as possible at a distance without glasses. Therefore, precise calculations are made of the power of the intraocular lens that is inserted into the eye. If the eye already has astigmatism before surgery, it can be corrected during the operation with toric intraocular lenses. Glasses are usually needed for reading and close-up work, which are typically prescribed 1 month after surgery. If a multifocal lens is implanted, glasses are not required for reading or distance in 95% of cases. Some patients occasionally need glasses for ‘middle distance’, more precisely for the computer.
The age of the patient is absolutely not a limiting factor for this type of surgery. As with other eye diseases, primary diseases of the macula at the back of the eye can also occur with age in addition to cataracts, the expected vision outcome after cataract removal is determined in accordance with the condition of the other parts of the eye, which the patient is always made aware of. In older patients, the quality of the corneal tissue (the front transparent part of the eye) usually decreases, which can become cloudy during surgery. Therefore, just a slightly longer recovery time for vision is needed. The operation is performed under local anesthesia (anesthetic drops are used), so there is no fear of sedation and general anesthesia.
The first and mandatory check-up is the morning after the operation. At that time, an initial assessment of the eye condition is made, the course of recovery is evaluated, and therapy is regulated. The next check-up is usually in 5-7 days, and then in 3-4 weeks. At that point, therapy is usually discontinued and appropriate glasses are prescribed. The operated eye is then checked again after 3 and then 6 months, and thereafter as agreed with your ophthalmologist.
The intraocular lens offers a lifelong solution. It is made from a material that does not cause the body to react in terms of rejection.
As soon as it is established that a child has cataracts, it should be removed as soon as possible. Waiting to perform cataract surgery in children is not recommended because vision cannot develop under the cataract. Cataract surgery increases the chance of the development of the best possible vision. It is almost inevitable that there will be residual amblyopia, but the sooner the surgery is performed, the greater the chance for better vision development. As with adults, after removing the cataract, an intraocular lens is implanted to optimize vision development. There are different opinions about the type of lens to be implanted. It is possible to install both a standard acrylic lens and a multifocal lens. After the lens implantation, treatment of amblyopia should continue. Given the growth of the child, and thus the growth of the eye, the need for glasses is expected. Sometimes in adulthood, it may be necessary to replace the intraocular lens due to the difference in diopter caused by the growth and development of the organism. In the “Dr. Kozomara” Special Hospital for Ophthalmology, cataract surgeries are performed even in children, and for these needs, the operating room is fully equipped, and the surgery is performed by an experienced team of ophthalmologists.
Specijalna bolnica za oftalmologiju „Dr Kozomara“ Banja Luka nudi određene pogodnosti u vidu kreditiranja operativnog zahvata. Operacija se može platiti gotovinski, kreditnim karticama, ili karticama na rate (od 10-24 rate). Banke sa kojima imamo ugovor za kartično plaćanje na rate su: Unicredit banka, Nova banka, Sberbank, NLB banka i Addiko Bank). Specijalna bolnica za oftalmologiju „Dr Kozomara“ snosi troškove plaćanja kamata na rate. Imamo mogućnost plaćanja na 36 rata bez kamata putem Ziraat banke. Više info 0800 50 113.
