Cataracts---Continue

>Will I need to repeat cataract surgery?Once you have undergone cataract surgery, it is very rare to need a second operation, unless some adjustment needs to be made in the placement of the lens. But about one in three people who has the surgery later develops another condition known as a secondary cataract, which may require a laser treatment.
   The problem occurs when the remaining membrane of the lens capsule gradually becomes cloudy and begins, to interfere with your vision the same way the original cataract did. The routine treatment is called YAG laser capsulotomy (YAG stands for yttrium aluminum garnet). Painless applications of this ultrahigh-powdered light open a tiny hole in the lens membrane. Once light can piece this newly created opening,clear sight is restored.
>Can other vision problems be corrected during cataract surgery?
If what's called a single-focus intracular lens is being implanted. Your doctor may also be able to adjust it to correct nearsightedness (myopia) or farsightedness (presbyopia). Other intracular lenses, which have bifocal or multifocal capabilities, are also now being used. These work like a pair of bifocal glasses, allowing you to focus up close on a page if you're walking or driving. There's  also a new toric lens that can be implanted to correct for an astigmatism-a lens-shape irregularity that causes distorted vision.
                            AFTER SURGERY: SETTING YOUR SIGHTS ON RECOVERY
To ensure you don't create complications that could harm your sight, many doctors recommend the following precautions after cataract surgery:

• Avoid touching or rubbing your eye. Be careful that no shampoo comes in contact with the eye.
• Apply eyedrops to promote the healing process. You may be required to wear an eye patch, however many doctors don't use them any more.
• Take ibuprofen (Nurofen) or paracetamol (Tylenol) to relieve discomfort. Avoid taking aspirin as it can promote bleeding.
• Don't drive for at least three days. Before you get behind the wheel again, make sure you are comfortable with your distance vision and are not distracted vision and are not distracted by sunglate or brightness.
• Wear dark glasses until you adjust to vision changes, especially it bright lights or full sunlight bother you.
• Sleep on your back or turn the untreated side of your head towards the pillow in the weeks after the operation. This prevents a build-up of pressure in the treated eye.
• Avoid lifting heavy objects or taking part in strenuous exercise for two weeks. These types of activities are known to also increase pressure in the eye.

Intracapsular cataract extraction (ICCE), Performed in less than 1 percent of cases, remvoes the entire lens and its supporting structure. In this procedure a special lens can be implanted, or you may be given eyeglasses or contact lenses instead. ICCE is usually recommended if someone is extremely nearsighted or has another eye disorder, such as glaucoma. After surgery, your doctor may prescribe some antibiotic eyedrops to help prevent infection, steroid drops fro inflammation and a pain reliever for discomfort. If you experience excessive pain or inflammation contact your doctor right away.
  Most doctors schedule a follow-up examination the day after surgery. It may then be a month before you need to see the doctor again. As soon as your vision stabilises, you can have it tested and get prescription glasses or contacts. If necessary, to improve upon the capabilities of the artificial lens. After a few months you may need to have the prescription altered again.

PROMSING DEVELOPMENTS

• An experimental technique using a laser device may prove to be the most effective way to break up cataracts into tiny, extractable particulars neeeded for a photo procedure. Research suggests this laser technique is gentler than the routinely used ultrasound and less likely to contribute to other eye problems.

Lifestyle changes

Although you can't reverse cataracts, making a few lifestyle changes can help you cope with any vision problems and perhaps slow down their progress. Quitting smoking and avoiding too much sun  are two immediate steps you can take. In addition, using a reading light properly can make a difference. If you are having trouble seeing words because of glare, try sitting as close as possible to your reading lamp with the light shining over one shoulder. Try a 50 watt incandescent flood (not spot) if standard 60 to 100 watt bulbs cause a problem.
  In addition, you may be able to retard the development of cataracts by eating plenty of nutrient-rich fruits and vegetables, which are high in vitamin C and E and beta-carotene. These antioxidant compounds (also avaiable in supplement form) help squelch free radicals--the unstable oxygen molecules that can weaken the delicate cell structure in the lens of the eye.