We always like to take the time to carefully explain all
of the things patients having cataract surgery and lens implants might
experience during their visit to the surgery center and even during their
cataract surgery procedure. In this way we are hopefully helping them relax and
have an easy and comfortable experience as we correct their vision. For just
about all of our patients having cataract surgery, they are awake and quite
aware of what is going on in the operating room. Every once in a while a
patient will be curious about what they will actually see during the cataract
procedure since they are awake. As this can really vary greatly from patient to
patient we were please to find the results of a study that can give patients some guidance of what they might experience.
Results
Patients having cataract surgery were asked to describe
the quality of the visual
experience as, pleasant, neutral or unpleasant. The group of 200 patients
interviewed in the study included an almost even mix of men and woman around
the age of 70 years old and as is to be expected, were a bit anxious before the
surgery and were given an oral tablet to help them relax. They all reported
seeing some gradation of colors including in descending order blue, red, pink,
yellow, green, purple, turquoise, and orange with the most common color
combination being red-blue light which was most likely from the operating
microscope. Most-61% of the light and color experiences during surgery were
reported to be pleasant, 38% were neutral and 1% found them transiently
unpleasant. Overall the experience of light and colors seen during cataract
surgery is mildly pleasant and in fact should reassure patients that the visual
experience is actually somewhat calming and relaxing during surgery.
If you or some you know is concerned
about having a cataract or needing cataract surgery and lens implants and
worried about what they will see, please call us at 800-325-3937, visit D’Ambrosio Eye Care, Google+ or facebook.com/dambrosioeyecare so
that we can help.
D'Ambrosio Eye Care provides eye care for patients
throughout greater Boston, central and western Massachusetts with office
locations at 479 Old Union Turnpike, Lancaster, Massachusetts 01523, 865
Merriam Avenue, Suite 119, Leominster, Massachusetts 01453, 100 Powder Mill
Road, Acton, Massachusetts 01720, 413 Main Street, Athol, Massachusetts 01331
and 74 Main Street, Gardner, Massachusetts 01440.
