What? Summer is not suitable for cataract surgery?

The elderly in my family has cataracts

Refusing to undergo surgery

The reason was that I heard from my neighbor a few days ago:

"In the summer, we sweat a lot, are prone to infection, and recover slowly, so cataract surgery is not suitable." The aunts and uncles in the family usually talk at the same time, but at this time they are in unison: "Anyway, cataract surgery can be postponed and done when it's cooler!"

Are these statements correct?

Not at all!!!

Many people have this misunderstanding, worrying that recovery will be slower in summer, and that the hot weather will cause postoperative infection and other problems, and believe that summer is not suitable for cataract surgery. In fact, from the perspective of the surgical principle of cataracts, cataract surgery has no seasonal restrictions.

The current cataract surgery incision is approximately 1.8-3.2mm, which can be called minimally invasive surgery. It causes little trauma and the recovery after surgery is quick.

Strong sunlight in summer usually makes the pupil smaller, and vision loss is often more obvious at this time. Those who are suitable for surgery should act immediately.

At the same time, the Wuhan University Aier Eye Hospital has a high-level laminar flow operating room with constant temperature, humidity, pressure and high air cleanliness, which can reduce the level of bacterial colonies in the air of the operating room, improve the quality of surgery and ensure the safety of surgery. In addition, the wards are also air-conditioned, so the temperature in the wards will be very comfortable even in the hot summer.

Therefore, whether cataract surgery is performed in summer or winter, as long as the conditions for cataract surgery are met and the vision is affected, this surgery is suitable.

When is cataract surgery done?

Can cataracts be treated with medication?

Do cataracts have to wait until they are mature before surgery?

How to choose artificial lens?

PhD, Associate Chief Physician

Deputy Director of the Cataract Group of Aier Eye Hospital Group in Hubei Province

Aier Eye Hospital Affiliated to Wuhan University

Zhou Li, deputy director of the Cataract and Presbyopia Department, will give you the answer

01. Can cataract surgery be postponed?

Patients often wait until they can no longer see before coming for surgery, or wait until the cataract matures, but this often delays the best time for treatment.

With the development of technology, it is safer and more effective to remove cataracts when they are "half-ripened". If the surgery is performed when the cataract is mature, the capsule and suspensory ligament of the eye are fragile, and the surgery is more difficult, with greater trauma, slower recovery, and poorer visual prognosis. It may also cause problems such as secondary glaucoma, and even lead to blindness.

02. Can senile cataracts be treated with drugs?

The process of lens opacification is like the process of an egg being cooked. Is there any way to make a cooked egg raw again? Obviously not. Therefore, the process of lens opacification in cataracts is irreversible. If you want to see clearly, you have to remove the original opaque lens and replace it with a new artificial lens. Therefore, surgery is currently the only effective treatment for cataracts!

03. How to choose artificial lenses? Are the more expensive the better?

Many cataract patients want to choose the "best" one before surgery. Many people think that the most expensive one is the best, fearing that choosing the wrong lens will affect their vision after surgery. This worry is completely unnecessary. Doctors should recommend different lenses according to the conditions and needs of different patients, so as to "tailor the treatment to the individual".