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Faq

Your most common concerns, answered by our experts.

FAQ

Your Questions, Our Expertise: Find Answers to Your Eye Care Needs
What is a cataract?

A cataract is the clouding of the natural lens inside the eye, leading to blurry vision, glare, difficulty in night driving, and decreased contrast sensitivity. It commonly occurs due to aging but can also result from diabetes, trauma, certain medications (steroids), or genetic factors.

Cataract surgery is recommended when the cloudy lens starts affecting your daily activities, such as reading, driving, or recognizing faces. If your vision cannot be improved with glasses and is interfering with your quality of life, surgery is the best option.

No, cataract surgery is a painless procedure. It is performed under topical or local anesthesia (eye drops or a small injection around the eye), ensuring you remain comfortable throughout.

The actual procedure typically takes 10-15 minutes, but you may need to spend a couple of hours at the hospital for preparation and post-operative monitoring.

Typically, surgeons prefer to operate on one eye at a time, with a gap of a few days to weeks between surgeries. However, in select cases, bilateral same-day cataract surgery may be done.

This depends on the type of IOL implanted. With monofocal IOLs, glasses may be needed for near work. Premium IOLs (multifocal or EDOF) reduce dependence on glasses, but some patients may still need them for fine print or night driving.

Yes, but your ophthalmologist will assess and manage any pre-existing conditions to optimize your surgical outcome. Special considerations are taken for patients with diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, or macular degeneration.

Most patients can return to work within 3-5 days, depending on their job. Air travel is generally safe after a few days, but always check with your surgeon.

What is diabetic retinopathy?

Diabetic retinopathy (DR) is a complication of diabetes that affects the retina, the light-sensitive layer at the back of the eye. High blood sugar levels damage the small blood vessels in the retina, leading to leakage, swelling, and in advanced cases, abnormal blood vessel growth, which can cause vision loss.

Anyone with diabetes (Type 1 or Type 2) is at risk. However, the risk increases with:

  • Duration of diabetes (longer duration = higher risk)
  • Poor blood sugar control
  • High blood pressure & cholesterol levels
  • Smoking
  • Pregnancy in diabetic women

In the early stages, there may be no symptoms. As the disease progresses, symptoms may include:

  • Blurry vision
  • Floaters (dark spots or strings in vision)
  • Difficulty seeing at night
  • Distorted vision
  • Sudden vision loss (in cases of bleeding inside the eye)
  • A dilated eye examination by an ophthalmologist is the best way to detect DR. Other tests include:
  • Optical Coherence Tomography (OCT): To check for swelling in the retina (macular edema).
  • Fluorescein Angiography (FA): To examine blood flow and leakage in retinal vessels.
  • Diabetic retinopathy progresses in stages:
  • Mild Non-Proliferative DR (NPDR): Small microaneurysms (tiny blood vessel swellings) form.
  • Moderate NPDR: Blood vessels start leaking fluid or blood.
  • Severe NPDR: Many blood vessels get blocked, cutting off oxygen to parts of the retina.
  • Proliferative DR (PDR): Abnormal blood vessels grow, increasing the risk of bleeding and retinal detachment.

DME occurs when fluid leaks into the macula, the central part of the retina responsible for sharp vision. It can happen at any stage of DR and is a major cause of vision loss.

Do glaucoma eye drops have side effects?
  • Some drops may cause:
  • Redness or irritation
  • Dry eyes
  • Eyelash growth (with prostaglandin analogs)
  • Low blood pressure or fatigue (with beta-blockers)
  • Lifestyle & Prevention

You cannot prevent glaucoma, but early detection can protect vision. To reduce risk:

  • Get regular eye exams
  • Control diabetes & blood pressure
  • Avoid long-term steroid use

Yes, moderate aerobic exercise (walking, jogging, yoga) may reduce eye pressure. However, avoid head-down yoga poses like downward dog, as they can increase IOP.

Yes, a healthy diet rich in antioxidants (leafy greens, omega-3 fatty acids, nuts) supports eye health. Avoid excess caffeine, as it may temporarily raise eye pressure.

If untreated, glaucoma can cause blindness. With early detection & treatment, most people maintain functional vision throughout life.

If detected early, vision can be preserved. However, if peripheral vision loss is significant, driving may not be safe.

Yes, stress & anxiety can temporarily raise IOP. Managing stress through meditation, exercise, or therapy may help.

Yes, but it may progress at different rates in each eye.

Yes, cataract surgery can lower eye pressure in some cases, especially in angle-closure glaucoma.

Yes, flying is safe for most glaucoma patients. However, if you have recently had glaucoma surgery, consult your doctor.

  • Steroid medications (unless prescribed)
  • Excessive caffeine
  • Prolonged head-down positions
  • Skipping eye drops or check-ups

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