Top of the page Decision Point. You may want to have a say in this decision, or you may simply want to follow your doctor's recommendation. Either way, this information will help you understand what your choices are so that you can talk to your doctor about them.
Cataract surgery removes the lens that has the cataract , which is a painless, cloudy area in the lens of the eye.
In order for you to see, the lens must be replaced. This happens in one of two ways:. Because the surgery replaces the lens in your eye, it's important to talk to your doctor about your choices. If you have an astigmatism , your surgery may cost more.
Talk to your doctor about your treatment options and if there is a cost. If you don't have another eye problem, such as glaucoma or problems with your retina , your chances of seeing better after cataract surgery are very good. But you may still need reading glasses or glasses for distance vision. If you are nearsighted or farsighted , or if you have astigmatism, you may not need your glasses or contacts as much after surgery.
This is because replacing the lens can improve these problems. But the surgery is not done for this reason alone. Cataract surgery doesn't usually cause problems. Your vision may be cloudy for up to 3 months after surgery.
But this is normal and will go away as your eye heals. The most common problem after surgery is a gradual return of cloudy vision several months or years after surgery. The problem happens when a part of the remaining lens cover becomes cloudy. The clouding can be fixed with laser surgery. Out of people who have this surgery, fewer than 10 have serious problems. Newer surgery techniques, such as using a laser for part of the surgery, make it less likely for problems to occur during or after surgery.
Some of these problems can be fixed with other treatment. But you may still have poor vision or blindness in the affected eye. In some cases, the treatment itself may also cause more problems. The cataract may make it hard for your doctor to check for other eye problems, such as damage from diabetes. When a cataract isn't treated until after it has become severe, the surgery may be harder to do. Also, you may be more likely to have problems after surgery or have a slower recovery than someone who had surgery for a less severe cataract.
When children have cataracts that cause vision problems, surgery is usually needed. To prevent permanent vision loss, it is very important to remove cataracts before the child is 3 months old. These stories are based on information gathered from health professionals and consumers. They may be helpful as you make important health decisions. My left eye is so clouded that I feel like I'm looking through tinted plastic wrap. I'm a little nervous about the surgery, but I need to have good eyesight to read, play cards, and do other things like that.
I will talk to my doctor and get more information about what to expect, then maybe I won't be so nervous. I didn't even know that I had a cataract until my eye doctor told me about it during my last eye examination.
I suppose my eyesight has changed a little bit, but it has happened so slowly that I haven't noticed it much. So long as I am still able to pass my driver's test and see well enough to do what I need to do, I don't plan to have surgery.
I have known about my cataract for a long time. Only recently has it started to bother me. It is very hard for me to drive at night, and I attend a lot of meetings in the evenings. Most people I know have had a good experience with cataract surgery, and my doctor specializes in it. So I feel confident that the surgery is right for me and will help me see better at night. I am very nervous about any surgery on my eyes. I know that cataract surgery is very safe, but it is still surgery on my eye, and the thought of blindness scares me.
So far I am able to manage fine, and my eyesight is only affected a little bit. I am going to put off having surgery for as long as I can. Your personal feelings are just as important as the medical facts. Think about what matters most to you in this decision, and show how you feel about the following statements. Because of my eyesight, I can't take part in activities the way I'd like to. Now that you've thought about the facts and your feelings, you may have a general idea of where you stand on this decision.
Show which way you are leaning right now. How sure do you feel right now about your decision? Use the following space to list questions, concerns, and next steps. Here's a record of your answers.
You can use it to talk with your doctor or loved ones about your decision. Do you need to have your cataract removed even if it doesn't really bother you? Are you clear about which benefits and side effects matter most to you? Do you have enough support and advice from others to make a choice? Author: Healthwise Staff. Karp MD - Ophthalmology. This information does not replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise, Incorporated disclaims any warranty or liability for your use of this information.
Your use of this information means that you agree to the Terms of Use and Privacy Policy. Cataracts usually get slowly worse over time. Surgery to replace the cloudy lens is the only way to improve your eyesight. Surgery is usually offered on the NHS if your cataracts are affecting your eyesight and quality of life. The decision to have surgery should not be based solely on your eye test visual acuity results. You may have other personal reasons for deciding to have surgery, such as your daily activities, hobbies and interests.
You can choose to put off having surgery for a while and have regular check-ups to monitor the situation. There are no medicines or eye drops that have been proven to improve cataracts or stop them getting worse.
If you're used to using 1 eye for distance and 1 for reading, which is called monovision, you can ask to stay that way. This usually means you'll get a near-sight lens fitted in 1 eye and a long-sighted lens fitted in the other eye. It's often carried out as day surgery under local anaesthetic and you should be able to go home on the same day.
During the operation, the surgeon will make a tiny cut in your eye to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with a clear plastic one. With the NHS, you'll usually be offered monofocal lenses, which have a single point of focus.
This means the lens will be fixed for either near or distance vision, but not both. If you go private, you may be able to choose either a multifocal or an accommodating lens, which allow the eye to focus on both near and distant objects. Most people will need to wear glasses for some tasks, like reading, after surgery regardless of the type of lens they have fitted. For example, doctors may recommend cataract surgery if a cataract makes it difficult for your eye doctor to examine the back of your eye to monitor or treat other eye problems, such as age-related macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy.
In most cases, waiting to have cataract surgery won't harm your eye, so you have time to consider your options. If your vision is still quite good, you may not need cataract surgery for many years, if ever. Your risk of complications is greater if you have another eye disease or a serious medical condition. Occasionally, cataract surgery fails to improve vision because of underlying eye damage from other conditions, such as glaucoma or macular degeneration.
If possible, it may be beneficial to evaluate and treat other eye problems before making the decision to have cataract surgery. You may be instructed not to eat or drink anything 12 hours before cataract surgery.
Your doctor may also advise you to temporarily stop taking any medication that could increase your risk of bleeding during the procedure.
Let your doctor know if you take any medications for prostate problems, as some of these drugs can interfere with cataract surgery. Normally you can go home on the same day as your surgery, but you won't be able to drive, so arrange for a ride home. Also arrange for help around home, if necessary, because your doctor may limit activities, such as bending and lifting, for about a week after your surgery. A week or so before your surgery, your doctor performs a painless ultrasound test to measure the size and shape of your eye.
This helps determine the right type of lens implant intraocular lens, or IOL. Nearly everyone who has cataract surgery will be given IOL s. These lenses improve your vision by focusing light on the back of your eye. You won't be able to see or feel the lens. It requires no care and becomes a permanent part of your eye. A variety of IOL s with different features are available. Before surgery, you and your eye doctor will discuss which type of IOL might work best for you and your lifestyle.
Cost may also be a factor, as insurance companies may not pay for all types of lenses. IOL s are made of plastic, acrylic or silicone. Some IOL s block ultraviolet light. Some IOL s are rigid plastic and implanted through an incision that requires several stitches sutures to close. However, many IOL s are flexible, allowing a smaller incision that requires few or no stitches. The surgeon folds this type of lens and inserts it into the empty capsule where the natural lens used to be.
Once inside the eye, the folded IOL unfolds, filling the empty capsule. Discuss the benefits and risks of the different types of IOL s with your eye surgeon to determine what's best for you. During phacoemulsification — the most common type of cataract surgery — the rapidly vibrating tip of the ultrasound probe emulsifies and helps break up the cataract, which your surgeon then suctions out top. An outer housing of the cataract the lens capsule is generally left in place.
After removing the emulsified material, your surgeon inserts the lens implant into the empty space within the capsule where the natural lens used to be bottom. First, your doctor will place eyedrops in your eye to dilate your pupil. You'll receive local anesthetics to numb the area, and you may be given a sedative to help you relax.
If you're given a sedative, you may remain awake, but groggy, during surgery. During cataract surgery, the clouded lens is removed, and a clear artificial lens is usually implanted.
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