Imagine a life where you can see the world around you with clarity. Cataract surgery provides this life-changing opportunity.
It removes the cloudy lens with a cataract and replaces it with a clear artificial lens, allowing you to enjoy crisp, sharp vision again. It’s completely normal to feel nervous or anxious about undergoing cataract surgery.
Keep reading to learn more about cataracts, cataract surgery, and tips to help you overcome those pre-surgery jitters!
What are Cataracts?
Cataracts occur when proteins in your eye’s natural lens begin to break down and clump together, causing clouding of your vision. Having a cataract is like seeing through a smudged window.
Cataracts often develop slowly, so you might not notice any symptoms initially. But over time, you may experience the following symptoms:
- Blurred or clouded vision
- Halos and glare
- Poor night vision
- Sensitivity to light
- Double vision in one eye
- Yellowing or fading of colors
- Frequent prescription changes
- Need for brighter lighting for up-close activities like reading
When these symptoms begin to disrupt your daily life, your eye doctor will recommend cataract surgery. Today, cataract surgery is performed using advanced technology and techniques that have made the procedure much more precise and safer than ever before.
Cataract surgery is done as an outpatient procedure and takes only twenty to thirty minutes to complete.
Tips to Calm Your Anxiety Before Cataract Surgery
Are you feeling anxious about your cataract surgery? Here are five tips that will bring you peace of mind and relieve your anxiety:
1. Arrange for Someone to Drive You Home
Knowing you have a recovery plan can reduce your anxiety about what will happen post-surgery. This includes having a friend or family member drive you home after your procedure.
You’ll be able to see immediately after cataract surgery. However, you may still experience light sensitivity and slightly blurred vision for several hours, so it won’t be safe to drive yourself.
Clear vision is critical for safe driving. Therefore, wait until you can see and are cleared by your eye doctor well before getting back behind the wheel.
Depending on your vision improvement, you’ll be signed off to drive by your cataract surgeon at your follow-up appointment a couple of days after the procedure.
2. Speak to Your Cataract Surgeon
Don’t hesitate to let your cataract surgeon know that you’re feeling anxious. Discussing your doubts, fears, and concerns with your cataract surgeon is one of the best ways to address the anxiety they create.
Remember, an experienced cataract surgeon has performed the same procedure successfully many times. Thus, they can provide the clarity you need about any aspect of the procedure that worries you.
For instance, they can explain the steps involved in removing your cloudy lens and implanting an artificial one so you can see clearly again. Doing so can lessen your stress and worry significantly.
The more informed you are about your upcoming cataract surgery, the more calm you’re likely to feel. Our fear often comes from the unknown.
When you understand as much as you can about your cataract procedure, you’ll feel more in control, which can allow you to be more at ease.
3. Prepare Meals in Advance
After cataract surgery, the last thing you want is to worry about what you’ll eat. By preparing a few days’ worth of healthy meals, you’ll have one less thing to worry about after to your cataract procedure.
So when it’s time to eat, all you’ll have to do is reheat the frozen food and enjoy healthy, home-cooked meals. Feeling like you’re prepared for your cataract surgery is a great way to help you feel relaxed.
4. Get a Good Night’s Rest
A good night’s sleep on the night before your cataract procedure is essential for a more relaxed day. Of course, it’s perfectly normal to have trouble sleeping when you’re worried.
If you’re having difficulty sleeping, try turning down the thermostat. Listening to soothing music or having a warm bath can also keep nerves at bay and help you sleep.
Being well-rested ensures your mind and body are ready for cataract surgery.
5. Wear Comfortable Clothing
On the day of your procedure, you’ll want to wear soft, comfortable clothing. Some suggestions include loose-fitting pants and a shirt or blouse with a zip or buttons down the front.
Following your cataract procedure, you’ll be sent home with an eye shield to wear for several days while sleeping. The shield will protect your eye as it heals.
Clothes with front buttons and zips are the best since you won’t have to worry about pulling them over your head and accidentally disturbing the shield. For shoes, consider flat shoes that are easy to slip on and off.
Your shoes should also offer good traction to reduce the risk of slips and falls. Cozy, loose clothes and well-fitting, easy-to-wear shoes can actually aid in boosting your mood, which may reduce your stress levels.
6. See Clearly with Cataract Surgery
You don’t have to wait any longer to see well again. Dr. Cheema at Cheema MD Eye Care can restore clear vision with state-of-the-art cataract surgery. We’re also here to guide you through the entire process to help ease your fears and anxiety.
Are cataracts clouding your vision? Schedule a cataract evaluation at Cheema MD Eye Care in Kingston, NY, today to find out if it’s time for cataract surgery!
