If you’re like millions of Americans, you have a cataract. But what if you had LASIK in the past?
Can you still have cataract surgery? The answer is yes! Keep reading to learn more about cataract surgery after LASIK!
What happens during LASIK?
When you undergo LASIK, it involves reshaping your cornea to correct refractive errors. These include nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
During LASIK, your eyes are first numbed using eye drops. These eye drops ensure you’ll never feel any pain during LASIK! Once the drops have been administered, your LASIK surgeon creates a small flap.
This small flap is in the cornea of the eye. The cornea has several layers to it. After flap creation, a small amount of corneal tissue is then removed from the middle layer of the cornea.
This is what corrects refractive errors! There are no stitches, and the flap heals on its own during recovery.
Why can I have cataract surgery if I’ve had LASIK?
If you have cataracts, you’ll notice that your vision has become impaired. The natural lens of the eye becomes cloudy due to proteins clumping together.
This a slow process that can often take years or decades to occur. During cataract surgery, the lens of the eye is what’s removed.
This is where the cataract is, and needs removal to ensure clear vision. So why can you have cataract surgery if you’ve had LASIK?
During LASIK, only tissue from the middle layer of the cornea gets removed. The lens of the eye is never touched during LASIK. You can undergo cataract surgery after LASIK because your lens is not touched.
What happens during cataract surgery?
When you get cataract surgery, it involves removing the lens of the eye which is now cloudy. Your cataract surgeon will make a small incision on the lens.
First, they will break up the cataract on your lens. Then, through the incision, they will pull your lens and pieces of the cataract out of your eye.
This is known as phacoemulsification and uses ultrasound waves. Once the lens has been completely removed, an artificial lens is then put in place.
The artificial lens or IOL takes over the job of your lens. The IOL is clear and is what allows you to get your vision back! There are many different kinds of IOLs to choose from.
What kind of IOL should I choose?
Make sure to discuss your options with your cataract surgeon before the procedure. You’ll want to choose an IOL that fits your lifestyle needs.
Because you’ve had LASIK, it’s likely that you’ll want a premium IOL. Premium IOLs are more expensive but they’ll let you continue to live a life that’s glasses free!
If you don’t mind wearing glasses, standard monofocal lenses may be fine as well.
It’s important to consider the pros and cons of all IOLs before you make your decision.
Ready to find out if it’s time for cataract surgery? Schedule a cataract screening at Stahl Eyecare Experts in Long Island, NY today!
