What Is The Best Age For Cataract Surgery?
Cataract surgery is one of the most common medical procedures in the country. Part of its popularity comes from its effectiveness and that it’s a low-risk procedure.
It’s also the only viable treatment for patients with cataracts. For many, cataracts can be debilitating, rendering them partially or completely blind. Cataract surgery can restore sight a patient has lost due to their cataracts.
But when should you get cataract surgery? How old should you be? The answer to this is less about age and more about how they affect your life. Keep reading to learn more!
No Age Limits
Surgeries, especially elective ones, tend to have age limits. The older you are, the more difficult it can be to have certain procedures.
When it comes to cataract surgery, this isn’t the case. Individuals over 90 years old have had successful cataract surgery with no complications.
There are a few conditions that may make cataract surgery more difficult. These are often associated with age.
Conditions like diabetes or glaucoma can make cataract surgery riskier than normal. Even elderly patients with complicating conditions can have cataract surgery with accommodations.
As a general rule, there is no “wrong” age to have cataract surgery. In fact, age often isn’t a factor in deciding whether to have cataract surgery.
The bigger factor is the severity of the patient’s symptoms because of their cataracts.
Severity of Symptoms
Cataracts occur when the eye’s natural lens becomes cloudy. This happens as a side-effect of aging. Cataracts most frequently affect individuals over the age of 40.
Cataracts can cause symptoms including blurry vision, halos, glare, and poor night vision. As cataracts develop, symptoms tend to become more severe.
At first, they may not be noticeable at all, only becoming obvious over a period of months or even years. Because cataracts develop slowly over time, some people never experience any significant symptoms.
For these individuals, there is no need for treatment or surgery.
When to Get Surgery
Though there are some people who never need cataract surgery, this is a minority of people. For most, cataract surgery becomes necessary when cataracts affect the quality of life.
This means that if cataracts make it difficult to do everyday tasks, it’s time to consider surgery. Cataracts are not a time-sensitive condition.
They can eventually cause blindness, but that blindness isn’t permanent. When you have cataract surgery, any sight loss due to cataracts can be restored.
At the point that your cataracts affect your quality of life, it is best to have them treated before they get worse. If you wait too long, you’ll have to spend more time not being able to see.
Do you or a loved one have cataracts? Think it may be time for treatment? Contact Complete EyeCare West to schedule a cataract screening in Columbus, OH!
We’ll help you determine if it’s time for cataract surgery, or if you have other options right now. Isn’t it time to see the world with clarity and vibrancy again? If you have cataracts, cataract surgery is the only way to effectively treat your cataracts.
