Do I Need Eye Exams After Cataract Surgery?
December 4th, 2024
Cataract surgery can reverse vision changes from cataracts and also correct refractive errors, reducing your reliance on glasses and contacts. However, treating cataracts doesn’t mean you should say goodbye to your eye doctor forever.
Eye conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy all pose risks to your vision and eye health, especially as you age. Keep reading to learn whether you need eye exams after cataract surgery and how they can help protect your vision.
What is Cataract Surgery?
Cataracts occur when the proteins of the natural lens begin to break down, usually due to aging, and form clumps that impair your vision. During cataract surgery, your eye doctor will remove the cataract-affected lens of the eye and replace it with an intraocular lens (IOL).
This can fix vision problems caused by cataracts and has the potential to improve your vision even further if you choose a premium IOL. Although cataract surgery can be a vital part of eye care as you age, the procedure does not prevent other conditions from developing and threatening your eyesight.
What to Expect During Eye Exams After Cataract Surgery
After cataract surgery, you should still continue to have eye exams with your eye doctor at Laser Eye Center. This is an opportunity for your eye doctor to check your vision and perform screenings for eye conditions like glaucoma, macular degeneration, or diabetic retinopathy.
Many eye conditions don’t cause any symptoms in the early stages. However, left untreated, they could lead to vision loss or blindness.
Comprehensive eye exams allow your eye doctor to spot signs of eye conditions at the earliest, most treatable stage. Your eye doctor may perform a variety of tests, including:
- Visual acuity testing
- Dilated eye exam
- Eye pressure testing
- Visual field testing
- Refraction
- Slit-lamp examination
- Eye motility
These tests can help your eye doctor screen for signs of eye conditions and assess your eye health and vision. Routine eye exams also provide an opportunity to ask questions about your vision and eye health, like how to maintain a good eye care routine, and explore glasses and contacts options that suit your lifestyle.
How Often Do I Need Eye Exams?
Most adults over 40 should see an eye doctor once a year for a comprehensive eye exam. Certain preexisting conditions or a family history of eye conditions could mean you need more frequent eye exams.
They are particularly important for people with diabetes, as everyone with diabetes is at risk for diabetic retinopathy. Diabetic retinopathy can cause damage to the tiny blood vessels in the eye, which can lead to irreversible vision loss over time.
If you have a family history of eye conditions like glaucoma, you will also need more frequent eye exams, as the condition often does not present with symptoms until permanent damage has occurred. However, through thorough examination and testing, your eye doctor can spot signs of glaucoma early and recommend treatment options to preserve your vision.
Other factors that can influence how often you need eye exams include age, medical history, and whether you wear glasses or contacts.
Do you want to learn more about eye exams after cataract surgery? Schedule an appointment at Laser Eye Center in Huntsville, AL, today!
