Cataract Surgery: The Big Day

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

On today's episode Suzanne undergoes cataract surgery on camera! Join her as eye surgeon Stephen Lichtenstein, M.D., Medical Director of the Main Line Surgical Center, removes her cataract and implants a new lens that will correct Suzanne's vision.

Here's the process that Suzanne went through on surgery day: When she checked into the surgical center, she filled out forms, gave her medical history, and got changed out of her street clothes. In the "post-op" area, a nurse gave her an intravenous tube for fluids, and drops in her eyes to make them numb (and to dilate the pupil, which makes the surgery easier to perform.) Most patients do not need general anesthesia. Once in the operating room, a jelly was put in her eye to further the numbing process, and an antiseptic solution was applied to prevent infection. A speculum was placed to keep her eyelid open.

Dr. Lichtenstein began the surgery by carefully making an incision on Suzanne's cornea that would allow him to get to the lens behind. He inserted an instrument that broke up the lens with the cataract, and removed that material. He then inserted the new implant lens, and maneuvered it so that it would stay in place. The lens has "feet" that actually heal into the eye to ensure it stays in place. Finally, he asked Suzanne to move her eye around, and she could.

Suzanne was amazed that she felt no real pain during or after the procedure, and was delighted that it only took a short time to complete. Watch tomorrow as Suzanne talks to Dr. Lichtenstein about the recovery process for cataract surgery.