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Surgery
Before the surgical intervention a series of eye-tests are necessary (i.e. examination of the eye-fundus, measuring of the eye-pressure, count of the endothelium cells of the cornea, an ultrasound examination and examination of the visual field) to decide whether the eye is fit for cataract-surgery.
In some rare cases that may necessitate a complete narcosis, pre-operative examinations such as EKG, blood tests, can be executed.
The surgical intervention may include a short one-night hospitalization or can be ambulatory. In the former case you arrive at the hospital on the day of the operation at the appointed hour and after being checked you leave the hospital the next morning.
In the latter case, you can leave the Antwerp Ophthalmologic Out-Patient Centre immediately after the intervention and you come back the next day to be checked.
With the modern techniques most interventions are carried out under local anaesthesia and ambulatory, i.e. without hospitalization.
The local anaesthesia is comparable to a dental anaesthesia. In some cases only drops are applied to obtain the anaesthesia.
Before the intervention eye-drops are also instilled to widen the pupil. When you are in the operating room, the area around the eye is disinfected and drapes are put around it.
The intervention is done under the microscope (with magnification till 24x) and under sterile conditions. Because of the bright illumination the patient won't notice what happens. The intervention takes about 20 minutes and is painless. |
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