In most people, cataracts start developing around age 60, and the average age for cataract surgery in the United States is 73. However, changes in the lenses of our eyes start to affect us in our 40's.
Age is the greatest risk factor for cataracts. Age-related cataracts may develop between 40 and 50 years old.
Doctors suggest winter as a good time to get the surgery done as the season can help you recover quickly. But it is not really stringent, all you need to keep in mind is if the vision is getting excessively blurred and your daily activities are getting hampered, then get the cataract removed as soon as possible.
Although it's never too late to have a cataract removed, it is better to have cataracts removed while they are immature, as this reduces the length of surgery and the recovery time. Earlier removal also means that you avoid the significant visual impairment associated with very mature (hypermature) cataracts.
The answer, essentially, is no. While each patient is different – and it's up to you and your surgeon to determine whether it's the best option for you – your age is not necessarily a limiting factor. In fact, successful cataract operations have been carried out on patients as old as 109, with good results.
Patients who wait more than 6 months for cataract surgery may experience negative outcomes during the wait period, including vision loss, a reduced quality of life and an increased rate of falls.
For example, if you have advanced macular degeneration or a detached retina as well as cataracts, it's possible that removing the cataract and replacing it with a clear intraocular lens (IOL) might not improve your eyesight. In such cases, cataract surgery may not be recommended.
Here are some things that you may want to avoid before and after cataract surgery to ensure that you heal properly. Avoiding eating and drinking before your surgery. Don't wear makeup to the surgery appointment, and avoid wearing makeup until your ophthalmologist allows it so that you can better prevent infection.
With that said, cataracts often advance slowly — and during their early stages, they may cause very little disruption. In these cases, busy schedules, fear of needles, or other healthcare problems make it easy to hit the “snooze button” and postpone surgery.
What are the risks of not having cataract surgery? Usually, a cataract that isn't removed will slowly get worse and make your eyesight worse: You may no longer be able to do your usual daily activities. You may not be able to drive safely, especially at night.
It is very common to have blurry or unclear vision in the days and sometimes even weeks after cataract removal. Most of the time, this is caused by normal swelling in the eye which occurs as a part of surgery. Patients with larger, denser and/or firmer cataracts are more likely to experience more inflammation.
Ultraviolet light from the sun may contribute to the development of cataracts. Wear sunglasses that block ultraviolet B (UVB) rays when you're outdoors. Reduce alcohol use. Excessive alcohol use can increase the risk of cataracts.
Over time, cataracts become worse and start to interfere with vision. Important skills can be affected, such as driving, and loss of vision can affect the overall quality of life in many ways including reading, working, hobbies and sports. If left untreated, cataracts will eventually cause total blindness.
The National Eye Institute publishes that age-related cataracts can form in a person's 40s or 50s, but they generally progress slowly enough that they do not start to really impair vision until age 60 or so.
While elderly people are more likely to develop cataracts, all older people do not always get cataracts.
Cataracts are a common part of aging and the most common cause of vision loss around the world. In fact, according to My Cataracts, cataracts currently affect more than 20.5 million Americans over 40 years of age. By age 65, more than 90 percent of people in the United States will develop cataracts.
Patients with SBP <180 mm Hg and/or DBP <110 mm Hg can proceed to elective cataract surgery even if they do not have a documented long-term blood pressure measurement from the primary care physician.
Is cataract surgery always successful? Like we said before, cataract surgery is a common surgery with a high success rate of 98%. However, the longer you wait to have cataract surgery, the more likely it is that you can experience some setbacks.
Cataract surgery patients often worry about what may happen if they blink during the procedure. Although this is an understandable concern, there is no need to worry. You will be given an oral medication prior to the procedure to help you relax during your surgery.
Cataract surgery is not painful. While patients are awake during surgery, there is little or no discomfort involved. A mild sedative may be administered before the surgery, which calms the nerves, and eye drops are used to numb the eye.
No, your vision generally doesn't deteriorate after cataract surgery unless other problems arise, such as macular degeneration or glaucoma. In cataract surgery, the eye doctor (ophthalmologist) removes the clouded lens from your eye and replaces it with a clear, artificial lens.
A long-term consequence of cataract surgery is posterior capsular opacification (PCO). PCO is the most common complication of cataract surgery.
While many age-related eye conditions can irreparably damage your vision, like glaucoma or macular degeneration, having cataract surgery will restore your clear vision. If you can't see well because of cataracts, there's little reason not to have cataract surgery.
Not only that, but the artificial lens is designed to last your entire life. That's what makes cataract surgery so effective. With that said, nearly 20% of all cataracts patients will experience something called posterior capsule opacification (PCO).
If you've had cataract surgery and your vision is still blurry or hazy, you may have a common condition called posterior capsule opacification (PCO). PCO, also sometimes called a “secondary cataract”, occurs when the capsule that holds the IOL in place gets obstructed by epithelial cells from the lens.