Risks of Cataract Surgery in Detroit
Even though surgery is most often inevitable once your doctor finds evidence of significant cataract formation in your eyes, it is possible to delay cataract surgery in Detroit. You need to make some modifications around your house and make a few lifestyle changes in order to achieve this. The main purpose of these adjustments is to just delay the surgery and not necessarily prevent the progression of cataracts. Not much is known about the causes of cataract progression or ways to stop it.
Steps to postpone cataract surgery
Always keep your contact lens or eyeglass prescription current and visit your doctor at scheduled intervals. Use video enlargement or speech recognition technology when you use computers. These allow you to make use of the remaining vision until the time that you undergo surgery. Adjust the furniture in your house and have adequate lighting to ensure that you do not fall and suffer injuries as a result. Avoid carpets as much as possible as these too can cause falls and hinder your ambulation.
There is some clinical evidence that suggests quitting smoking reduces the progression of cataract formation. Protecting your eyes from sunlight by wearing hats and sunglasses also helps. If you are a diabetic, you must keep it under control by complying with regular intake of medications. Also avoid tanning booths and sunlamps. If you are on steroids, consult your primary care physician if you can go off them, as there is some evidence that suggests cataract progression is enhanced by use of steroids.
Precautions after surgery
You would be given specific instructions for eye care by your cataract surgeon in Shelby Township, which would include protecting your eyes, using eye drops and looking for any signs of infection. You should be careful not to come in direct contact with your eyes through your fingers or the tip of the medicine dropper. It is wise to not press or rub your eyes, and place a rigid shield to protect them.
You must notify your doctor if you experience vision loss, vomiting, nausea, excessive cough or pain in the eyes as these might be signs that you have developed an infection. Pain, redness and swelling are also the signs that you should watch out for.
Do not get soap or running water in your eyes. Use warm water to gently clean around the periphery of the eyes. Be careful with the use of shampoo and avoid swimming for at least three weeks after the cataract surgery.