The preoperative work-up

The preoperative work-up is a decisive step: it is what makes the procedure safe and allows precise calculation of the implant that will replace your lens. Carried out at the practice in Fez, Morocco, it is painless and takes place during a dedicated consultation.

Cataract surgery is also a “refractive” surgery: the implant placed corrects part of your vision. To aim for the best result, the eye must be measured very precisely and it must be ensured that no other condition limits the benefit. The work-up meets these two objectives.

This is the key examination. Using a beam of light, the biometer measures in a few seconds the length of the eye, the curvature of the cornea and the astigmatism. These data make it possible to calculate the power of the implant to a quarter of a diopter. The examination is quick, contactless and painless: you simply look at a point of light.

Topography maps the surface of the cornea. It specifies the astigmatism — useful for deciding on a toric implant — and screens for at-risk corneas that could change the surgical strategy or the choice of implant.

OCT is a non-irradiating, painless scan of the retina and optic nerve. It looks for sometimes silent conditions — early glaucoma, AMD, macular edema, epiretinal membrane — that may influence the visual result and the type of implant. Detecting them before surgery makes it possible to adapt the management and to give a realistic outlook.

The consultation also includes a slit-lamp examination, a measurement of eye pressure and an examination of the fundus after dilation. Together this confirms the diagnosis, assesses the maturity of the cataract and checks for the absence of contraindications.

It is at the end of this work-up, and by discussing your needs (driving, reading, screens, work), that the type ofmost suitable implant for your eye and your lifestyle is decided.

• Contact lenses: stop them a few days before the measurements (as instructed) because they change the shape of the cornea.
• Your medications: tell us about your medications, especially blood thinners and certain prostate treatments (alpha-blockers).
• Your documents: bring your prescriptions and your previous eye-care reports.

Generally allow less than an hour for all the measurements and the examination. Most results are available immediately, which makes it possible to discuss the type of implant and the date of surgery during the consultation itself.

In short, the preoperative work-up has two complementary aims: to ensure safety, by ruling out contraindications and detecting associated conditions, and to aim for a precise result, by calculating the implant to measure. It is the key step that prepares a smooth surgery.