Cataract eye surgery is a life-changing operation that has helped many individuals regain their vision and enhance their quality of life. Each year, millions of cataract treatments are conducted in India.
Cataract eye surgery is a relatively quick procedure. However, understanding the recovery process is critical for patients to have a smooth healing journey. But how much does cataract surgery cost? Keep reading to find out!
What is Cataract Eye Surgery?
Cataract eye surgery involves treating cataracts (a common eye ailment that causes the eye’s natural lens to fog). This clouding produces hazy or distorted vision and problems seeing in dim light. If left untreated, this can potentially lead to blindness.
Cataract eye surgery involves eliminating the clouded lens and replacing it with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) to restore clear vision.
Benefits of Cataract Eye Surgery
Cataract eye surgery provides various advantages to people with vision impairment due to cataracts. Some of the primary benefits of cataract surgery include:
- Improved Vision: Cataract eye surgery is extremely efficient in restoring clear vision hampered by the clouding of the natural lens.
- Enhanced Quality of Life: Clear eyesight allows people to continue daily activities, including reading, driving, watching television, and participating in hobbies with ease.
- Reduced Requirement for Glasses: An intraocular lens (IOL) is inserted during cataract surgery. Premium intraocular lenses (IOLs) can cure refractive problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, and astigmatism.
- Safety and Success: Cataract eye surgery is considered one of the safest and most successful surgical operations. With advanced procedures and technologies, the surgery’s safety profile has improved.
- Blindness Prevention: Cataract is the primary cause of reversible blindness globally. Individuals can prevent or reverse eyesight loss by undergoing cataract surgery at the right time.
Recovery Time of Cataract Surgery
Cataract eye surgery recovery is relatively quick, with most patients gaining improved vision within a few weeks. There may be some discomfort, light sensitivity, and blurred vision in the immediate postoperative period.
Patients are frequently able to resume everyday activities within the first week. Usually, vision improves during the next few weeks. Full recovery can take a few weeks, including vision stabilisation and correction to implanted intraocular lenses. Regular follow-up meetings with your surgeon are essential for tracking progress and ensuring a satisfactory outcome.
Factors Affecting The Recovery Time
Cataract surgery recovery time can be influenced by several factors, including:
- Type of Cataract Surgery: Various types of cataract surgical techniques exist. These include phacoemulsification and extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE). Compared to ECCE, phacoemulsification is less invasive and often results in a faster recovery.
- Overall Health: Any pre-existing medical issues can impact the recovery process. Diabetes and autoimmune illnesses can both impede healing and lengthen recovery time.
- Age: Younger patients often recover faster than older patients. However, age-related factors such as decreased healing ability and other health conditions may impact the recovery process in older persons.
- Cataract Severity: The stage and severity of the cataract can affect how long it takes to heal. Advanced cataracts may require more extensive surgery, resulting in longer recovery.
- Intraoperative Problems: Unexpected difficulties after surgery, including issues with intraocular lens insertion, may result in a longer recovery period in some circumstances.
- Post-Operative Care: Following post-operative care guidelines is critical for a full recovery. Properly using prescribed eye drops, avoiding strenuous activities, and protecting the eyes from irritants can all aid in recovery.
- Complications: While complications after cataract surgery are uncommon, they can occur and may lengthen the recovery time. Infection, inflammation, or secondary cataracts (posterior capsular opacification) are all possible problems.
Post-Surgery Measures
Taking adequate care of your eyes after the cataract eye surgery is vital for a smooth and complete recovery. Here are some crucial post-operative measures to take:
- Use Prescribed Eye Drops: Follow your surgeon’s recommendations when using prescribed eye drops. These drops aid in the prevention of infection, the control of inflammation, and the promotion of healing.
- Protective Eyewear: Wear UV-protective sunglasses or eyeglasses when going outside to protect your eyes from dangerous ultraviolet (UV) radiation. This is especially critical in the months following surgery.
- Rest and Recovery: Avoid strenuous activity for the first day following surgery. Wearing eye protection while sleeping is advised.
- Hygiene: Maintain good hygiene by washing your hands and avoiding dusty or unclean places. This lowers the danger of infection.
- Follow Activity Guidelines: Your surgeon will advise when you can resume activities such as reading, watching TV, and exercising. In most cases, you can resume these activities within a day or two of surgery.
- Attend Follow-Up Appointments: Regularly visit your scheduled follow-up sessions to evaluate your healing progress and whether your eye is recovering normally.
- New Glasses or Contacts: After your eye has fully healed and stabilised, your surgeon will evaluate whether you require new glasses or contact lenses.
- Avoid Touching or Rubbing: To avoid infection and problems, avoid rubbing or touching your operated eye. Ensure your hands are clean and dry before applying eye drops or prescriptions.
- Avoid Bending: Do not bend forward at the waist, particularly in the first few days after surgery. Bending can cause an increase in intraocular pressure and strain on the eyes. This can lead to difficulties.
- Avoid Driving: You should avoid driving on the day following cataract surgery since your vision may be hazy. Most ophthalmologists advise patients to wait at least 24 hours following surgery before driving again.
- Sneezing and Coughing: It is critical to avoid putting too much pressure on the eyes, especially when sneezing or coughing. If you sense a sneeze or cough coming on, keep your mouth open and slowly exhale to relieve the strain on your eyes. To reduce the effect on your eyes, sneeze or cough with your head slightly angled forward.
- Avoid Water Exposure: For at least a week, or as directed by your surgeon, refrain from swimming or getting water directly into your eyes.
- Report Any Concerns: Contact your surgeon immediately if you suffer pain, rapid changes in vision, increased redness, or discharge.
Cataract Surgery Cost
The cataract surgery cost in India varies depending on criteria such as the type of procedure (standard or premium), the intraocular lens (IOL) chosen, the location of the facility, and the surgeon’s experience.
Standard cataract surgery can cost between INR 30,000 and INR 50,000 per eye on average. On the other hand, premium solutions with sophisticated IOLs can cost between INR 50,000 and INR 1,40,000 per eye.
The cost breakdown for cataract eye surgery in India can vary based on several components:
- Surgical Procedure
- Intraocular Lens (IOL)
- Hospital or Facility Charges
- Surgeon’s Fee
- Preoperative and Postoperative Care
- Medications and Eye Drops
- Additional Tests
- Location
Please check below the approximate cost breakdown of the cataract eye surgery
| Cataract Expenses | Cost-breakup (INR) |
| Doctor Consultation Fee | Rs. 600 |
| OPD Fee | Rs. 600 |
| Diagnosis Tests | Rs. 2,500 |
Micro-incision Cataract Surgery (MICS)
|
Cost
|
| Medicine Cost | Rs. 2,000 |
| Postoperative care | Rs. 2,000 |
Takeaway
Cataract eye surgery provides a transforming opportunity for enhanced vision and quality of life. The recovery time after cataract surgery is mostly rapid and rewarding. However, regular follow-up sessions are required to ensure appropriate healing.
HexaHealth provides a one-stop solution for those in need of cataract eye surgery. It aids patients throughout their surgical journey, from selecting the finest facility to ensuring smooth hospitalisations. So, why wait? Make an appointment today!
