The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends regular eye exams to prevent eye conditions. But if you need eye surgery, consider these common eye surgeries. You can talk to your eye doctor, at Sacramento Eye Consultants, about these procedures to prepare better. Here are the five most common eye surgeries and what to expect from them.

1. Cataract Surgery

Once your natural lenses become cloudy, you will have difficulty seeing well. Cataract surgery can replace these clouded lenses with clear, artificial ones. The eye doctor will perform this surgery as an outpatient procedure. This will allow you to go home right after the surgery.

Cataract surgery can make it easier for the eye doctor to treat another eye problem. Your cloudy lenses may prevent a thorough examination of the macula found behind the eye. They may also make it difficult to treat diabetic retinopathy. Resting and eating healthy foods can help you recover right away.

2. LASIK Surgery

Laser-assisted in situ keratomileusis, or LASIK, is an eye surgery for people who want better vision without eyeglasses or contact lenses. It uses a laser to remove tissue underneath the cornea’s surface. This procedure can correct astigmatism, nearsightedness, or farsightedness by creating a flap in the cornea.

LASIK is an outpatient procedure. Treating both eyes will only need 30 minutes. You will start to see better a day after your LASIK surgery. Some patients report seeing better right after the procedure. Discomfort may last for one to two days. Your eye doctor can prescribe pain medications to help manage the pain.

3. PRK

Photorefractive keratectomy or PRK can correct astigmatism, nearsightedness, or farsightedness. You will not need eyeglasses or contact lenses anymore after this eye surgery. Your eye doctor will use a laser to remove some cells from your cornea’s surface. Although it seems similar to LASIK, PRK does not create a flap in the cornea to reshape it.

It will only take 10 minutes to treat both eyes. Expect your eyes to hurt after the surgery. Manage the pain with the medications from your eye doctor. Complete rest and good sleep can help you heal better. Studies show that your vision will improve by about 80 percent after a month. The improvement will increase to 95 percent after three months.

4. Glaucoma Surgery

The main goal of this procedure is to repair your optic nerve. Pressure buildup often targets this nerve. Without treatment, this eye condition can result in blindness. Laser glaucoma surgery is an outpatient procedure. Blurry vision and pain will occur after the procedure.

Traditional glaucoma surgery is an option if laser surgery does not work. This outpatient procedure may result in redness and watery eyes. You will need a week of healing before returning to your normal activities. Rest as much as you can and eat healthy foods.

5. Diabetic Retinopathy Surgery

People with uncontrolled diabetes often develop diabetic retinopathy. High blood glucose levels can damage the thin blood levels in the eyes. This results in blood and fluid leakage into the retina. By then, you will begin to see spots or floaters.

Your eye doctor can perform this procedure in the clinic. The laser can trigger the growth of new blood vessels and reduce swelling. The surgery can prevent future leaks, but most people need more laser surgery over time. Blurry vision may persist. Rest and better blood glucose control can help improve this condition.

Understanding the mentioned eye surgeries can help you prepare for them when the time comes. At Sacramento Eye Consultants, we see that our patients get high-quality eye care whenever they need it. Please visit our clinics in Sacramento and Lincoln, California, for a one-on-one consultation. Call 916-915-0300 to schedule an appointment or inquire about our eye surgery packages.