Today, cataract surgery is performed on an out-patient basis and takes only a few minutes. Patients can then go home and rest in comfort and avoid the expense of staying in a hospital. Your cataract will be removed with an advanced technique called phacoemulsification, or small-incision cataract surgery. The cataract is then fragmented into microscopic particles using high energy sound waves and gently suctioned from the eye. Topical anesthesia and self-sealing incisions have taken cataract surgery to the next level.
Many patients are able to see with clear vision much sooner after surgery.
In most cases it is now possible to return to daily activities such as driving and reading almost immediately. Many patients experience vision that is actually better than before they developed cataracts. Once removed, cararacts will not grow back. The results of surgery are permanent, giving patients a lifetime of better vision. It can take months or years for a cataract to develop.