15 Cataract Surgery Doctors in Pune

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Cataract Surgery and its advantages?

Cataract Surgery is a surgical procedure that involves removing and replacing the natural lens of the eye with an artificial lens. This surgery is recommended to treat conditions in which the lens becomes cloudy and leads to blurring of vision, glare or halos around lights, etc. There are three types of Cataract surgeries.

1. Extracapsular surgery
2. Phacoemulsification
3. Intracapsular cataract surgery

Few advantages of Cataract Surgery are:

1. Better vision
2. Safe and painless procedure
3. Can go home on the same day of surgery
4. High success rates

What are the indications of Cataract Surgery?

The indications of Cataract Surgery are the following:

1. Blurred and disturbed vision
2. Halos and starbursts when looking at bright lights
3. Poor sight or vision during night

What can be the preparation for Cataract surgery?

Before undergoing the surgery, the medical condition of the patient will be checked by the doctor and would recommend a few of the following steps to follow:

1. Use of contact lenses should be stopped at least a week prior to the surgery.
2. Avoid having food for at least 6 hours before the surgery.
3. Avoid applying any creams or makeup on surgery day.
4. The patient should inform past and present medical and medication history to the doctor.

How is Cataract surgery done?

Cataract surgery can be done by following methods and steps:

Method-1: Extracapsular surgery

1. During this procedure, a slit is made on the side of the cornea by the surgeon and the cataract (cloudy central section) is slipped out of the lens in one piece without breaking into pieces.
2. Once the rest of the lens is removed with a vacuum instrument, the eye lens is replaced with an artificial lens.
3. This method is used to treat advanced cataract when the eye lens is too thick.

Method-2: Intracapsular Cataract surgery

1. This method is used rarely, In this method, a slit is made larger than the extracapsular method the side of the cornea by the surgeon.
2. The eye lens is removed all at once instead of breaking it into pieces and an artificial lens or Intraocular lens (IOL) usually made of silicone or plastic lens is placed in the eye.

Method-3: Phacoemulsification

1. Phacoemulsification is also called small incision cataract surgery and is similar to the extracapsular surgery. 
2. A local anesthetic is given and a small opening is made at the side of the cornea. 
3. The eye lens is broken into small pieces with the help of ultrasound. These pieces are then removed with the help of suction and the artificial lens is inserted into the eye.

What is the recovery care for Cataract surgery?

Few steps are recommended by the doctor for the recovery from Cataract surgery and they are:

1. Avoid swimming for at least a week. 
2. Do not use lotions, creams, make-up, etc around the operated area.
3. Regular follow-up visits to the doctor must be done to check the condition of the eye and eye lens.
4. Avoid going to crowded places and dusty areas to reduce complications after the surgery.
5. Do not lift weights or play sports like tennis and racquetball for next one week after the surgery.
6. Wear sunglasses to protect the eyes from direct sunlight.
7. The patient must ignore the urges to rub the eyes and wipe un-necessarily, as these actions may disturb the corneal layer and the artificial lens. 

Which type of doctor can perform the Cataract surgery?[Right specialist type for Cataract Surgery?]

Cataract surgery can be performed by a certified and skilled Ophthalmologist who is well experienced in performing Cataract Surgery.

How much does Cataract surgery cost in Pune?

Following factors may affect the cost of Cataract surgery in Pune are:

1. Doctor fee
2. Type of lens used
3. Hospital expenses
4. Medical condition
5. Type of procedure performed
6. Recommended lab tests

The minimum charge in Pune starts from Rs.16,000

The average amount to be paid in Pune is approximately Rs.26,925

The maximum expense in Pune can be up to Rs.50,000 

Is Cataract Surgery a major surgery or minor surgery?

Cataract surgery is considered minor surgery and the patient may leave the hospital on the same day of the surgery.

What is the eligibility criteria for Cataract Surgery?

The following people are considered eligible for Cataract Surgery:

1. The significant blurring of the eye lens
2. The best correction of visual acuity (visual clarity) is 6/9 or worse
3. Age of patients equal to or greater than 60 years 
4. Accidental eye lens damage due to foreign bodies

What is the ineligibility criteria for Cataract Surgery?

The following are the ineligibility criteria for cataract surgery:

1. Old age people with diabetes or any other health condition(s)
2. Pre-existing eye disease (glaucoma or dry eyes)
3. Ill Health
4. Pregnancy
5. Breastfeeding
6. Medications that may interfere with this surgery  (antidepressants may cause chronic eye dryness)

What are the risks and complications associated with Cataract Surgery?

The following are the risks and complications involved in Cataract surgery:

1. Infection and bleeding
2. Displacement of the artificial lens
3. Drooping and swollen eyelids
4. Retinal detachment
5. Secondary cataract
6. Glaucoma
7. Loss of vision

How long does it take to complete Cataract Surgery?

To complete the Cataract surgery, the surgeon may take almost 5 to 10 minutes.

What is the recovery time?

It may take around 2 weeks to one month to recover from the Cataract Surgery. However, the individual may experience visual clarity within 4 days of the surgery.

What is the success rate of Cataract Surgery?

The factors that affect the success rate of Cataract Surgery are:

1. Patient age 
2. Health condition of the patient
3. Type of surgery performed
4. Experience of the surgeon

However, the success rate of Cataract surgery can be around 96-98%. 

Does cataract surgery cause pain?

Every surgery comes with a certain level of pain and some discomfort. The patient won't be experiencing any pain during this process as the patient will be under general anesthesia. There may be some discomfort after the procedure.

What are the long-term results of Cataract Surgery?

1. Improvement in the vision.
2. Reduces the appearance of halos around light.

What can be done if cataract surgery fails?

If the Cataract surgery fails, then the doctor may suggest the patient for revision surgery. 

What are the alternatives for Cataract Surgery?

The following are the alternatives for Cataract Surgery:

1. Use of contact lens, glasses, bifocals, other visual aids, etc. 
2. Lifestyle changes
3. Vision correction
4. Eye drops