Lyle and I have been reading up on the subject. In fact, Lyle has just had his second cataract removed. It has been an interesting experience for him. The first procedure went relatively smoothly, although his eye felt quite gritty for a few days afterwards. For the second surgery, an intern doctor was doing the procedure. The surgery wasn’t quite as comfortable but the recovery has been excellent. The duration of the surgery seems to be from ten to twenty minutes depending on the doctor who is doing the procedure, but the wait time at the hospital is usually much longer.
Some doctors will give the patient a mild sedation before operating but in most cases the area is just frozen. The eyelid is held back as the doctor removes the damaged lens and inserts a new clear lens. Lyle said that the hardest part was keeping his eye open and looking at a very bright light during the procedure.
Since Lyle’s diagnosis of cataracts, we have become more aware of just how many people we know who have had cataract surgery. Cataracts are definitely more prevalent in an older generation but they can also develop in younger people. In an Australian study, we read that the condition is more common in people with brown eyes rather than blue. The study also reported that the condition can be accelerated by exposure to the sun.
Having said this, I have brown eyes and Lyle has blue eyes. I don’t have cataracts and now that Lyle has had his surgery, he doesn’t have cataracts any more either. I think that the lesson is that there are always exceptions to any medical rule and the best way to have peace of mind is to regularly have that important optical check up.
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