5th Avenue Eye Center

(212) 764-2020 or (866) 731-3937

2 W 47th St #202 New York NY 10036-3341 - Map / Directions

Cataract Surgery FAQs

What is a Cataract?
Can a Cataract Come Back After Surgery?
If I have an old fashioned, monofocal lens put in my eyes, can I change it at a later time?
Do I need to wait until my cataracts mature before surgery?
What Causes Cataracts and How Do They Form?
What Happens During Surgery?
Is Cataract Surgery Painful?
What are the Benefits of Cataract Surgery?
What are the Risks of Cataract Surgery?
Do I have to stop blood thinners such as Coumadin, Aspirin, Plavix etc.?
Will my glasses prescription change after surgery?
What will I do with my glasses after the surgery?
What do I do with my glasses after my first eye is done, while waiting for the second eye?
I feel a foreign body sensation (scratchy feeling) in my eye after the surgery, should I be concerned?
I can’t see clearly the next day after surgery, whereas my friend saw perfectly the first day after his. Is that normal?
I felt like the surgery on my second eye was different than on the first, why?
Do I need to wear the dark glasses?
Are there any restrictions after surgery?

What is a Cataract?

A cataract is the clouding of the lens in the eye. Cataracts can occur gradually over time or they can be present at birth. Most commonly, though, cataracts affect older Americans above age 60. In fact, estimates indicate that more than half of all Americans over the age of 80 have cataracts or have had surgery to correct them. This condition is widely accepted as a natural part of the aging process.

Can a Cataract Come Back After Surgery?

No. Once the lens has been completely removed, a cataract cannot form on the implanted lens. It is important to note, however, that lens capsule (the tissue bag surrounding the replacement lens) can become clouded over time and can mimic symptoms of a cataract. In these cases, a very simple outpatient procedure called a YAG laser capsulotomy is needed to create a hole for light to pass through the lens again.

If I have an old fashion, monofocal lens put in my eyes, can I change it at a later time?

The answer is generally no. Once the lens is put in it is going to be very difficult to change it due to tissue healing around it.

Do I need to wait until my cataracts mature before surgery?

No. Old fashion surgeons used to remove the cataract through a large incision made into the eye. The cataract would then be expelled from the eye by manual pressure (like a pimple) and a lens implant would be inserted. The closure of such wound required many sutures and took a long time to heal. This process would require a hard or “mature” lens, so it would come out in one piece. Using modern, suturelss cataract surgery techniques actually work much better and with less trauma to surrounding tissues when the lens is softer. Therefore, a mature lens is no longer a requirement. However, the surgeon does need to verify that the cataracts are visually significant.

What Causes Cataracts and How Do They Form?

The lens of the eye is responsible for passing light through to the retina, which in turn, reflects images to our brain so that we can see properly. A cataract is formed when the soft, flexible tissue of the lens goes through a state change and begins to cloud over due to a variety of causes, including prolonged exposure to the sun, smoking and diabetes. When the lens gets cloudy due to cataracts, light can’t pass through effectively and objects become fuzzy and out of focus. Left untreated, cataracts can become very dense, causing blindness.

What Happens During Surgery?

During cataract surgery, Dr. Cohen will use a phacoemulsification (ultrasound) device to break up the affected lens with high-frequency sounds waves. The tissue is then washed away and an intraocular lens (IOL) is inserted in its place. IOLs are either monofocal (one distance) or multifocal (all distance) and allow your eye to properly interpret light in order to produce clear, crisp images, often without the need for eyeglasses. Some patients may still need glasses, however, particularly with monofocal lens replacement.

Is Cataract Surgery Painful?

No. Most of our patients report little to no discomfort during or after cataract surgery. During surgery, you will be administered anesthetic drops to numb your eyes. Afterwards, you can take over-the-counter pain medications if you feel any pain or irritation.

What are the Benefits of Cataract Surgery?

Cataract surgery improves vision to pre-cataract state. If multifocal IOLs are implanted, then you can even improve your vision beyond what it used to be. This procedure has a 98% success rate and can improve your overall quality of life.

What are the Risks of Cataract Surgery?

As with any surgical procedure, there are risks. Millions of people have safely undergone cataract surgery, but there have been a small number of complications reported. We will take the time to discuss the risks with you at the 5th Avenue Eye Center.

Do I have to stop blood thinners such as Coumadin, Aspirin, Plavix etc.?

No. Unless you are notified otherwise specifically by the physician.

Will my glasses prescription change after surgery?

Yes. You will certainly need a new prescription since the change could be very significant.

What will I do with my glasses after the surgery?

Glasses will be prescribed after the eye/s have been stabilized following surgery. This usually take several weeks. In The meanwhile you can just use over the counter readers for help with reading if needed (you may not need this if you had a next generation lens)

What do I do with my glasses after my first eye is done, while waiting for the second eye?

You can either take the glass in front of the operated eye out, keep wearing your glasses as is or just not wear them. Whichever feels more comfortable for you.

I feel a foreign body sensation (scratchy feeling) in my eye after the surgery, should I be concerned?

No. This can happen after the surgery, specially in patients with dry eyes. There is absolutely no cause for concern. You can use artificial tears to remedy the feeling.

I can’t see clearly the next day after surgery, whereas my friend saw perfectly the first day after his. Is that normal?

Yes. There might be some swelling of your corneas after the surgery, that may last anywhere from a few days to a few weeks. That depends largely on the extent of the cataract and the amount of ultrasound energy that was needed to remove it. Just be patient and use the drops as instructed.

I felt like the surgery on my second eye was different than on the first, why?

This subjective feeling is very common and not a cause for concern. If there is any significant difference between the two surgeries or any unusual complications your surgeon will tell you. Otherwise, no cause for worry.

Do I need to wear the dark glasses?

No. they are provided for your comfort after the surgery, since your eyes are dilated and sensitive to light. But you don’t have to use them.

Are there any restrictions after surgery?

No. You may resume your daily activities including bending and lifting. Just refrain from immersing your head in pools or hot tubs for the first week. Routine showering is allowed.