If your eye doctor has recommended cataract surgery, you may be wondering what the experience will be like. The procedure removes your eye’s cloudy natural lens and replaces it with a clear artificial lens.
Knowing the purpose of the operation may still leave you with questions about being awake or what you might see and feel. Most people remain awake during cataract surgery, with medication to keep the eye comfortable and, when needed, help them relax.
The walkthrough below explains how cataract surgery is performed, step by step. It begins with your care team numbing and protecting your eye before the surgeon starts, then proceeds to the removal of the cloudy lens and the placement of the replacement lens. Your surgeon will explain any differences in your individual plan.
For people considering cataract surgery in Yuma, Aiello Eye Institute provides evaluations to assess eye health and discuss treatment options. Request a cataract evaluation to talk through your questions and learn what to expect.
The Cataract Surgery Procedure, Step By Step
Step 1: Your Care Team Numbs and Protects Your Eye
Your team uses medication to numb the eye. This often involves anesthetic eye drops. Some patients also receive a local anesthetic injection, depending on the procedure and their needs.
Local anesthesia reduces sensation in the area being treated. Sedation serves a different purpose: it helps you relax and may make you feel drowsy. Receiving sedation does not necessarily mean you will be fully asleep.
Your team cleans the eye area and uses drops to widen the pupil. A sterile drape covers the surrounding area, leaving the surgical eye exposed.
Ask which anesthesia approach is planned for you and how to communicate with the team during surgery.
Step 2: Your Surgeon Makes A Small Opening
Once the eye is numb, the surgeon makes a small incision in the cornea, the clear front surface of the eye. This opening provides access to the cloudy lens inside.
The natural lens sits within a thin capsule. Your surgeon creates an opening in the front of that capsule to reach the cataract.
During a routine operation, the surgeon preserves the remaining capsule to support the replacement lens. The capsule and the cloudy lens material are different structures.
Step 3: Ultrasound Breaks Up And Removes The Cloudy Lens
A small probe enters through the incision. It uses ultrasound energy to break the cloudy lens into fragments that the surgeon removes with suction.
This technique is called phacoemulsification. The National Eye Institute describes how ultrasound is used in modern cataract surgery.
Breaking up the lens allows the surgeon to remove it through a small opening rather than taking it out in one piece. After removing the cloudy material, the surgeon prepares the remaining capsule to hold the new lens.
Step 4: Your Surgeon Places The Artificial Lens
The replacement is called an intraocular lens, or IOL. It replaces the removed natural lens and helps focus light inside the eye.
Many IOLs are flexible. The surgeon inserts the folded lens through the small incision, then positions it as it unfolds inside the capsule.
Your surgeon selects the lens and its focusing power based on measurements and discussions before the operation. Our guide to cataract lens options explains those choices in more detail.
The IOL stays inside the eye as a permanent implant. It does not sit on the surface like a contact lens.
Step 5: Your Surgeon Checks The Lens And Incision
Before finishing, the surgeon checks the lens position and the incision.
Many small cataract incisions seal without stitches. If an incision needs additional closure, the surgeon may use fine stitches. The approach depends on the incision and the individual operation.
What You May See And Feel During Surgery
Being awake does not mean seeing the operation in sharp detail. You may notice bright light, movement, or changes in light and shade. The National Eye Institute explains that patients may notice lights or motion without seeing what the doctor is doing.
You may hear your team talking or notice a sensation of touch around your face. Some patients describe pressure. Numbing medication should prevent pain from the operation.
Tell the team promptly if you feel pain or become uncomfortable. Do not assume you need to tolerate it. Also let the surgeon know if you need to cough, sneeze, or adjust your position.
Traditional And Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery
Both approaches remove the cloudy lens and replace it with an IOL. The difference involves how the surgeon performs certain steps.
| Part Of The Procedure | Traditional Surgery | Laser-Assisted Surgery |
| Creating openings | The surgeon uses handheld instruments to create the corneal incision and capsule opening. | An image-guided laser may create these openings. |
| Breaking up the lens | An ultrasound probe breaks up the cloudy lens for removal. | A laser may soften or fragment the cataract before ultrasound removal. |
| Placing the replacement lens | The surgeon inserts and positions the IOL. | The surgeon inserts and positions the IOL. |
Laser-assisted surgery still involves incisions and surgical instruments. The laser does not perform the entire operation, and ultrasound commonly remains part of lens removal.
The American Academy of Ophthalmology explains these differences between traditional and laser-assisted cataract surgery. Ask your surgeon which approach suits your eyes and what it entails in your procedure.
How Long The Cataract Operation Takes
Many straightforward cataract operations take approximately 15 to 30 minutes. More complex procedures can take an hour or longer.
That estimate refers to operating time. Your complete visit also includes check-in, medication, and observation, so it takes longer than the operation itself. Ask your surgical team how much time to reserve.
The procedure’s length does not describe how long the eye takes to heal. Our separate guide to cataract surgery recovery explains what happens afterward.
Understand Your Cataract Surgery Plan
The operation follows a sequence, but your eye health, anesthesia needs, and lens choice help shape your individual plan. Bring questions about being awake, visual sensations, or the surgical technique to your care team.
If you already have an upcoming procedure, review our guide to preparing for cataract surgery alongside the instructions your team provides.
Aiello Eye Institute helps patients in Yuma understand their cataracts and treatment options. Request a cataract evaluation or call (928) 782-1980 to discuss your vision and next steps.