Cataract Surgery in Cape Town

Cataract surgery is a procedure performed to remove the cataract or cloudy lens from your eye. It will then be replaced with an artificial lens called an IOL or intraocular lens. This artificial lens will be positioned in the same place as your natural lens.  At present, cataract surgery is the only definitive treatment for cataracts.

Dr Vayanos will recommend cataract surgery in Cape Town based on how severe your cataracts are and what impact they have on your day-to-day activities. If a patient has cataracts in both eyes, surgery is usually performed on the more affected eye with a second surgery on the other eye performed at least a week after your first surgery. The reason for this is to give your first eye time to heal and for your vision to stabilise.

In certain circumstances, surgery on both eyes can be performed at the same sitting by a Cape Town Opthalmologist.

After surgery, your cataract cannot come back as the artificial lens cannot form cataracts. The transparent posterior lens capsule can however become opaque after surgery. This can occur weeks, months or years later and is easily treated in Cape Town with a quick, painless, in-rooms laser procedure, called a YAG capsulotomy.

Before surgery, your ophthalmologist will begin with an examination involving diagnostic testing. This is done to confirm you have cataracts, to exclude any other diseases that may be affecting your vision, and to advise if a cataract operation in Cape Town with Dr Vayanos will benefit you.

If cataracts are confirmed, surgery will be scheduled and involves the following:

1. Eye drops (dilating and anaesthetic) will be administered to prepare the eye for surgery.
2. Two tiny incisions are made at the edge of your cornea to allow access to the lens.
3. A tiny ultrasound probe breaks up and dissolves the cataract (cloudy lens) and a suction device removes all the lens material.
4. Your surgeon will then implant an intraocular lens into the lens capsule to restore the focusing power of the eye.
5. There are usually no stiches involved as the tiny wounds are self-sealing.
6. Your operated eye will then be covered with a clear eye shield. This is to guard and protect your eye especially on the day of surgery, and when sleeping during the first week.
7. You will need to use eye drops for a few weeks after surgery to help your eye heal.

• Monofocal lenses – are the most common type of lens used in cataract surgery. These lenses have one focusing distance set to focus either up close, medium range, or for distance vision.
• Monovision – corrects your vision by using a monofocal lens that is set to a different distance in each eye.
• Toric lenses – these lenses are designed to correct astigmatism.
• Multifocal lenses – provide the patient with near, intermediate and distance focus at the same time.
• Refractive lens exchange – this is identical to cataract surgery but is performed on patients who do not have cataracts. The intention with refractive lens exchange is to remove the need to wear glasses or contact lenses.

After cataract surgery in Cape Town with Dr Vayanos, most patients do not report any pain. Mild discomfort can be normal. A follow-up consultation with Dr Marianthy Vayanos is scheduled within the first 3 days after surgery. it is recommended that someone drive you to and from the consultation. It may take a few days for your vision to fully return.

Cataract surgery usually comes with few side effects. These will improve within a few days. Full recovery could take about 4-6 weeks. It can be normal to experience grittiness, blurred vision or rarely a slightly bloodshot eye. In the first few weeks after your surgery, we highly recommend you do the following:

• Relax and take it easy for the first couple of days
• Don’t rub your operated eye
• Always use your eye drops as instructed by your ophthalmologist
• Use your eye shield at night for the first week post-op
• You can shower and wash your hair but avoid shampoo or soap from getting into your eye.
• Avoid swimming for up to 6 weeks post-op
• Avoid doing any kind of strenuous exercise for at least a month
• Avoid applying eye make-up for at least a month

When outdoors, sunglasses are recommended

Most surgeries come with risks and complications, and it is no different with cataract surgery. For patients who have other eye issues or serious medical conditions, complications during surgery can rarely occur. This includes damage to structures within the eye. Fortunately, this can be managed during the operation.

Depending on the severity of your cataract, your vision will clear in a few days or a few weeks. If your recovery is slow, don’t be alarmed as the final visual outcome will be the same. This is usually due to corneal oedema (swelling) and is treated with eye drops.

Some very rare serious complications include infection and retinal detachment. It is important to contact Dr Vayanos as soon as possible so that treatment is promptly started, to prevent further complications and/or significant vision loss. If you feel you need cataract surgery in Cape Town, call Dr Vayanos.

Dr Vayanos is a Cape Town cataract surgeon in full-time private practice at the Netcare Christiaan Barnard Private hospital.

Her practice is equipped with the latest technology allowing her to give you personalised, high quality eye care with surgical precision. If you have cataracts and are symptomatic, we suggest you consider surgery as soon as possible. Cataract surgery is a safe procedure with a very low complication rate and rapid recovery rate. Contact us today and start enjoying clearer vision and an improved lifestyle and quality of life.