The Importance of Pre-Operative Evaluation

A surgeon is compelled to perform a pre-operative evaluation of the patient’s eye for cataract surgery. Immediate surgery may result in complication if the eye is not prepared properly or other eye problems are not treated beforehand. There are certain conditions to consider before finally confirming the suitability of a patient for such procedures. Sometimes, the pre-operative evaluation takes a long time because of pre-treatment that may later be required.

There should be a specific level of vision reduction that a surgeon must look upon to tell whether the patient is a potential cataract surgery candidate. It is critical to identify the causes of the vision reduction so as not to blame everything to cataracts, which can result to a wrong diagnosis and treatment. Age-related macular degeneration, for example, can also be a cause of deteriorating vision and may require another procedure.

While most cataract surgeries employ pressure on the eye or on some components of the eye, there should be a standard measure of pressure maintained for weeks prior to the operation. If in any case glaucoma is causing the disruption on the standard pressure, it should be controlled through medication or treated through another procedure. In progressive cities like Texas, surgeons can perform phaco-trabeculectomy to treat glaucoma and cataract all at the same time.

Also, the pupil of the eye needs to be kept under standard dilatation before the procedure. The patient must maintain continuous dilatation using eyedrops weeks prior to the operation. The pupil should be dilated enough during the procedure for the penetration of the necessary materials and the easy extraction of the cataract during the operation. This is a must in any cataract surgery Texas surgeons perform.

If a considerable retinal detachment is observed, the cataract surgery Texas surgeons perform may be combined with vitreo-retinal procedure. This is often performed prior to the intraocular lens (IOL) implantation. The same is performed in one appointment because of the sensitivity of the incision involved in the procedure.

A serious inspection of the medical history of the patient is also important to prevent complications. Patients who had taken certain drugs like tamsulosin can develop intraoperative a floppy iris syndrome. This syndrome may subsequently cause a posterior capsule rupture or the bursting of the crystalline lens. Therefore, the patient who will undergo cataract surgery Texas offers should be honest in giving information about his or her medical history.