Your Diagnosis and Early Examinations

If you are like most people, you were probably first diagnosed with a cataract during a routine eye exam. The next step involves visiting the ophthalmologist who will work with you to determine if and when you will need surgery.

Your ophthalmologist will perform a few simple tests to determine the severity of your cataract and the type and power of implant you'll need. If your doctor determines you have cataracts in both eyes, he or she may recommend having surgery on the eye with the most advanced symptoms first.

Examinations

Your doctor may assess the severity of your cataract using a device known as a slitlamp 1. This device allows the doctor to examine the external parts of the eye, such as the cornea, pupil and lens.

Next, your doctor may perform a dilated fundus examination 2. During this procedure, your doctor will place drops in your eye to dilate your pupil so he or she can look more closely at the back of the eye (the retina and the optic nerve).

Today, ophthalmologists can fit you with an intraocular lens that best matches your visual needs. Your doctor will probably perform two other exams that will help determine the type and power of intraocular lens that you'll need. A keratometer measures the curvature of your cornea. An A-scan measures the length of your eye using ultrasound.

Other Considerations

Once your doctor has assessed the severity of your cataract, the two of you will decide together whether surgery is necessary. Some people can still read an eye chart but struggle with other symptoms such as glare. Other people can have relatively cloudy vision, yet it doesn't seem to affect their daily activities.

If you decide to have the surgery, your doctor will want to know any medications you are currently taking. You may need to stop taking certain drugs at least a few days prior to your procedure, such as aspirin and other blood-thinning drugs (anticoagulants). These drugs may increase the risk of bleeding during surgery.

Another medication that may have an effect on surgery is Flomax®, a muscle-relaxing medication used for treating an enlarged prostate. This drug may cause the iris to be "floppy" during surgery, which could lead to complications.

In addition, doctors often prescribe eye drops to prevent infection and inflammation a few days before surgery.