Two fairly common medical procedures strike fear into the hearts of most patients. One is the Colonoscopic examination of the bowel to detect early signs of cancer, and the other is the surgical removal of Cataracts and the installation of a replacement lens to deliver clear vision.
Both are carried out without pain or suffering, but what distresses many Cataract patients in the forewarning that they will not be completely sedated with an anaesthetic. The suggestion that surgery will be carried out on the eye while they are still awake is a frightening prospect. It may help if this procedure is explained on a step by step basis.
When a patient presents for Cataract surgery a nurse administers three different eye drops to the eye to be treated. This is done on three separate occasions with a time lapse between, and usually the nurse implants a " dot" with a Pentel pen to the patients forehead as a record that this action has been completed.
These drops are in fact a local anaesthetic that allows the surgeon to carry out the procedure without the patient feeling any sensation from the eye. When these drops have been given time to take effect the patient is wheeled into the procedure room and the anaesthesist connects a needle to the patients wrist. Most people wrongly think that this is the anaesthetic that will numb the eye. In fact, it is a mild anaesthetic to calm the patient - and the actual lens replacement is done very quickly.
The surgeon usually stands behind the patients head and the only sensation is the surrounding eye area being constantly washed with water. There is no feeling of contact with the eye, and very quickly the surgeon states " Job complete " and places a bandage patch over the treated eye. The patient is then wheeled to recovery, and a little later gets dressed and joins the patient queue for tea, coffee and sandwiches. This eye surgery is a pre-fasting regime.
The patient usually keeps the eye bandage in place until the next day and is required to administer eye drops for a period of time. The new lens has restored the ability to read the newspaper without reading glasses, and usually the other eye gets a similar service at a future date.
Like a Colonoscopic bowel examination, Cataract removal is a procedure that does not involve pain and suffering. The anticipated horror is purely a figment of the imagination. Both seem very invasive to the average person's mind and without a clear interpretation of what is involved we create mental scenarios - that are very frightening.
In the reality world of modern medicine, most patients are surprised to find that the procedure has been carried out without them being fully aware of anything unusual. Nothing disturbed the tranquility of their time in the procedure room - and now the problem is solved - and has restored their peace of mind.
The creation of jangled nerves when these procedures are suggested - comes entirely from our very active imagination !
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