Cataract Eye Drops: Before and After Surgery
A cataract is an eye condition that causes cloudy vision and can lead to complete blindness.
Surgery is the only effective treatment option available for treating the condition.
According to a 2021 study by Rossi, there are around 3.8 million surgeries performed every year worldwide.
Doctors prescribe specific eye drops before and after cataract surgery.
These eye drops are prescribed to prevent complications after the surgery.
Here, the article discusses commonly prescribed eye drops before and after cataract surgery.
Cataract eye drops before surgery
Once you opt for Cataract surgery, your doctors prescribe different eye drops before the surgery.
Glaucoma eye drops
Glaucoma patients have high intraocular pressure (IOP).
In patients with Glaucoma coexisting with cataracts, eye drops containing Pilocarpine are prescribed.
These eye drops to keep the IOP in control for such patients.
These Pilocarpine eye drops are generally prescribed two-three weeks before the surgery.
Pilocarpine is a Muscarinic receptor agonist.
It constricts the eyes’ ciliary and pupillary sphincter muscles to allow the excess fluid in the eye to flow out.
It also reduces Aqueous humor formation, resulting in a lower IOP.
Antibiotic eye drops
Antibiotic eye drops work to treat and prevent the eyes.
Doctors prescribe Ofloxacin eye drops to prevent any infection in the eye during the surgery.
The infection can lead to Endophthalmitis, which can lead to light sensitivity and ocular redness after the surgery.
They are prescribed to put it 3-4 days before the surgery.
Milflox Eye Drop kills bacteria that are the root cause of various infections.
It restricts the multiplication of bacterial genetic material.
This prevents them from reproducing and eventually kills them.
Anti-inflammatory eye drops
Anti-inflammatory eye drops are prescribed to prevent postoperative inflammation in the eye.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory eye drops also prevent Macular edema after the surgery.
Doctors usually prescribe the anti-inflammatory three days before the Cataract surgery.
The medicine blocks Prostaglandin H Synthase, an enzyme required for Prostaglandin.
These prostaglandins are responsible for discomfort, redness, and eye inflammation.
Hence, NSAID eye drops prevent inflammation and redness after the surgery.
Eye drops for pupil dilation
Eye drops for pupil dilation are given a few hours to minutes before the surgery.
Pupil dilation is necessary before Cataract surgery so your surgeon can see behind the eye.
An adequate dilatation lowers the risk of problems and guarantees a safer, more successful procedure.
The eye drops for pupil dilation prescribed by doctors are Cyclopentolate and Phenylephrine.
Eye drops after Cataract surgery
After the Cataract surgery, your eyes become more vulnerable to complications.
These complications might include eye pain, ocular redness, inflammation, and dry eyes.
Hence, eye drops become an essential part of your postoperative care routine.
The different kinds of eye drops prescribed after the cataract surgery include,
Steroids
Steroids, specifically Corticosteroids, are prescribed to treat inflammation after the surgery.
They are generally prescribed for two weeks.
Steroids keep a check on the production of chemicals that cause inflammation.
This helps keep tissue damage as low as possible.
Steroids also reduce the immune system’s activity by affecting how white blood cells work.
Lotepred Eye drops are prescribed to treat inflammation and eye pain.
Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory
Other than steroids, Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory eye drops can help reduce swelling.
They also work as pain-relieving eye drops.
They can help make patients more comfortable during recovery.
Bromfenac is a non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug that treats pain and inflammation after surgery.
NSAID eye drops are also primarily prescribed by doctors to treat inflammation.
These eye drops work by blocking the natural substance in the eye that causes pain and swelling.
Lubricating eye drops
Lubricating eye drops or Artificial tears help relieve dry eye symptoms.
Generally, dry eye after cataract surgery is temporary, with symptoms decreasing after one month.
Eyemist E/D 10 ml works to treat dry eyes due to cataract surgery.
Eyemist increases the viscosity of tears in the eye.
It gives short relief from burning and pain in this manner.
| Cataract Eye Drops | Price |
|---|---|
| Pilocar Eye drop of 5 ml | $13.88 |
| Milflox 0.5% 5 ml | $2.93 |
| Ns Aid 5 ml Eye drop | $1.34 |
| Lotepred Eye drop of 5 ml | $5.64 |
| Megabrom 5 ml | $5.52 |
| Eyemist E/D 10 ml | $13.66 |
Conclusion
Cataract eye drops are commonly prescribed before and after surgery to prevent side effects.
Doctors prescribe pupil-dilating eye drops before the surgery to help the surgeon have a clear view of the eye.
Antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops are given to prevent inflammation and infections after the surgery.
Other eye drops may include lubricating and steroids as pain relievers.
If you opt for surgery, take all your cataract eye drops according to your doctor’s instructions to avoid side effects.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can eye drops remove cataracts?
Currently, there are no eye drops available to treat cataracts. The only treatment option is surgery, where the cloudy lens is surgically replaced with an artificial one.
What eye drops are used before Cataract Surgery?
Before Cataract surgery, doctors usually prescribe antibiotics and anti-inflammatory eye drops. Just before the surgery, they instruct to use eye drops for pupil dilation.
What eye drops are used after cataract surgery?
After the surgery, doctors prescribe steroids and pain-relieving and lubricating eye drops. These eye drops help treat after-surgery symptoms such as eye pain, dry eye, or inflammation in the eye.
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