Cataract Surgery: What to Expect

at 11:55AM, 1:55PM, and 3:55PM

Join Suzanne today as she visits eye surgeon Stephen Lichtenstein, M.D., Medical Director of the Main Line Surgical Center, in part one of our three part series on cataract surgery. In this episode, Suzanne reveals that she has been diagnosed with a cataract in her right eye.

Dr. Lichtenstein and Suzanne discuss why people have anxiety about cataract surgery, and what to expect before, during and after the procedure.

Cataracts occur when the lens of the eye becomes clouded, which reduces the clarity of vision. Suzanne's symptoms included difficulty seeing at a distance or at night. Dr. Lichtenstein explains that the old lens is removed, and replaced with a synthetic lens, or implant, much like a contact lens. Many people are fearful of the procedure because they are squeamish about eye surgery, or remember the way it was done years ago, when more complications occurred and recovery was long. Now, patients can expect little pain and a short recovery time. In fact, the operation is usually done on an outpatient basis. Follow up visits are necessary to check progress of the eye with its new lens.

According to Dr. Lichtenstein, although every operation has risk, the success rate for this surgery is excellent. Check in with Suzanne tomorrow as she undergoes her cataract removal on camera.