Eye problems are very common among people of all ages across the world. Thankfully, modern medicine has the solutions to most eye ailments, including surgical procedures used to correct eye problems such as glaucoma and cataracts.
There are surgical procedures that can help fix problems with vision, effectively removing the need for wearing contacts or glasses.
Optometrists diagnose eye problems and can provide various treatment options for patients. Your optometrist in Grande Prairie will take care of pre-operative and post-operative treatment. If surgery is required, you will be provided with referrals to an ophthalmologist for surgery.
This article lists common eye surgery procedures that require the services of an optometrist before and after the procedure.
1 - Cataract Surgery
A cataract is a condition in which the eye's normally clear lens develops clouding, which blurs or dulls your vision. It mostly affects older people.
It is usually corrected by a surgical procedure that involves the removal of the cloudy lens and replacing them with an artificial lens. The procedure takes around an hour or lesser to complete.
There might be discomfort or itchiness that you may experience during the healing process. You may also experience blurred vision for a few days.
2 - Diabetic Retinopathy Surgery
Patients with diabetes who have no control over their blood sugar are at risk of developing this condition. The blood vessels of such patients get damaged due to increased blood sugar levels. When the vessels in your eyes are affected by the condition, they leak blood and other fluids inside the retina.
This can alter your vision, and spots appear that seem to float within your vision. The problem can be handled in two ways. The first one is laser surgery to minimize the swelling of your eye and promote the development of new blood vessels.
The second option is Vitrectomy surgery, which removes scars and reduces further leaks from your blood vessels. There could be an extended stay in the hospital for a little longer after the treatment.
3 - Glaucoma Surgery
In glaucoma, your eye's optic nerve gets damaged, commonly due to increased pressure within the eye socket.
Treatment options include traditional glaucoma surgery or using laser surgery. Laser surgery is an outpatient treatment procedure, and hence you can go home once it's done.
Glaucoma surgery is used if the laser treatment is not effective. Though you can go home after the procedure, it could take up to one week before you can resume your normal activities. Red or watery eyes are some of the side effects of this procedure.
Closing Notes
Those were the most common procedures for which an optometrist in Grande Prairie, AB, provides pre- and post-operative care. If you are searching for optometrist services, please contact iSee Optical.