Should You Avoid Summer? 7 Misconceptions and Truths About Cataract Surgery

 

■Cataract surgery does not need to be rushed (○)

 

Most surgeries are not emergency surgeries, and surgery is recommended if vision loss is interfering with daily life. Professor Song Min-kyung of the Department of Ophthalmology at Ilsan Paik Hospital stated, "However, if symptoms of vision loss are left untreated, vision will deteriorate further and the difficulty of the surgery itself will increase." After being diagnosed with cataracts, you should have regular checkups and consult with your doctor to determine the appropriate time for surgery. He emphasized, “It is good to receive it.”

 

■Summer should be avoided if possible (X)

 

Many people try to avoid summer because they cannot wash their face or hair for 1-2 weeks after cataract surgery. Professor Song Min-kyung said, “However, There is no difference in surgical results depending on the season. "Cataracts can only be treated with surgery. If you experience discomfort even in summer, consider surgery. “It is desirable to do so,” he said.

 

■You must wear sunglasses immediately after surgery (X)

 

No. The cloudy cataract may become sensitive to light as it changes into a clear artificial lens. However, Wear sunglasses outdoors to protect your retina because the UV-blocking effect of transparent artificial lenses is reduced. It is good to do so.

 

■Multifocal intraocular lenses also have disadvantages (○)

 

Cataract surgery involves replacing the cloudy lens with an artificial lens. Multifocal IOLs, in particular, are favored by many patients because they provide clear vision at both distances and near. Professor Song Min-kyung explains, "However, multifocal IOLs disperse focus, resulting in lower clarity than monofocal IOLs and potential side effects such as shadows and glare." If you are sensitive to light or have a sensitive personality, be cautious about multifocal intraocular lens surgery. He advised, “You must do it.”

 

■ Artificial lenses can be replaced with other types (△)

 

It is not always possible, so sufficient consultation with the doctor in charge is necessary. Circumstances in which intraocular lens replacement may be considered include changes in the eye's condition over time. Specifically, patients with monofocal intraocular lenses (IOLs) often experience the inconvenience of needing reading glasses for near vision, and may desire a multifocal IOL replacement as their eye condition changes over time.

 

Dr. Moon-Jeong Choi, a specialist at the Retina Hospital of Kim Eye Hospital, said, In this case, replacement is possible, but if a lot of time has passed, there is a high possibility that the artificial lens has already adhered to the surrounding tissues inside the eye, so removing it itself is dangerous. “It is possible,” he said. “We can also consider inserting it on top of the existing single-focus lens, but the difficulty level is very high, so sufficient consultation with an experienced specialist is necessary.”

 

■If a cloudy symptom appears after surgery, it is a sign of relapse (X)

 

It's not that the cataract actually relapsed. A cloudy appearance due to proliferation of proteins or epithelial cells in the artificial lens and the lens capsule, a thin membrane surrounding the lens. Specialist Choi Moon-jung said, “This is Posterior cataract or posterior capsular opacity He said, “The floaters that form in the lens capsule can be removed with a laser without reoperation.”

 

Cataract surgery also has side effects (O)

 

All surgeries have complications and side effects. The most common side effect is dry eye due to changes in the corneal nerves. Therefore, If you are a patient with severe dry eye, you should receive sufficient treatment beforehand before surgery. It is recommended to do so. In addition, it can cause intraocular infection, which is an infection of the eye caused by bacteria, intraocular lens dislocation, which is a displacement of the artificial lens from its position, and corneal insufficiency, which is a damage to the cornea caused by a black spot.