Deciding When to Have Cataract Surgery

Not sure if you're ready for surgery? Here are some of the conditions that might help you make your decision:

. You feel a loss of independence. Perhaps you need help going up and down stairs, or into shops or restaurants, for fear of stumbling, falling, or bumping into things. Glare (from the sun during the day or from headlights at night) might prevent you from driving.

. You can't or don't want to wear glasses or contact lenses.

. Even with eyeglasses or contacts, your vision isn't good enough for you to meet your responsibilities at work, at home, or in the community.

. Vision problems due to cataracts are diminishing your quality of life. If you're an avid reader, photographer, bridge player, or bicyclist, for example, your cataracts might make these pursuits difficult or impossible, or less enjoyable than they could be. They can even be dangerous, if your interests run toward sports and the outdoors: skiing, bicycling, hiking, sailing, and so forth.

Medical factors affecting the timing of cataract surgery include: 59 Planning for Cataract Surgery

. The complexity of surgery and recovery. In general, the longer you wait after cataracts start to bother you, the more complicated the surgery and the longer the recovery.

. Health problems, including those affecting your eyes. Cataract surgery is a simple procedure (at least from the patient's perspective) that takes only a few minutes. Still, it's best to have surgery when you are in good health.

Some people don't seek treatment for their cataracts, or they wait until the cataracts are well advanced. They might fear surgery, worry about the length of recovery, or believe that poor eyesight is just "part of getting older."

The fact is, the many benefits of cataract removal and lens replacement greatly outweigh the slight risks. New techniques make the procedure quick and painless; you can have surgery first thing in the morning and be home in time for lunch. Within a few days you can be back at work, already enjoying your clear vision and your independence. You might not need eyeglasses at all, and you can continue to do the things that improve your quality of life. There are benefits for the rest of the population as well. One study has shown that, among people who have cataracts, those who have had cataract surgery are 50 percent less likely to be involved in a car accident while driving.