When Should You Get Cataract Surgery?
Cataracts are common, especially as we get older. When the clear lens inside of the eye hardens and becomes cloudy, that is when they form. Many people’s symptoms grow gradually over several years, however. Cataracts can also form if you have an eye injury, take certain types of medication, have diabetes, or are exposed to the sun for too long. The most common question of course, is when should you get cataract surgery from Excel Laser Vision Institute in Los Angeles?
Doctor Moosa, a corrective eye surgery specialist says that not everybody needs cataract surgery right away. However, if changes in vision start to affect your daily life, or if you have a cataract that develops more quickly, then it may be time for the surgery. Best case scenario, this is a decision that you make with your surgeon after weighing the benefits and risks.
Keep these things in mind when you’re considering booking your cataract surgery:
Are Your Cataracts Affecting Your Daily Life?
It’s important to consider your symptoms and the type of lifestyle you live. We all use our eyes to see, but everyone relies on their eyes for different reasons. Take for example that the needs of someone who looks at a computer all day may be different from a professional truck driver who drives all day instead.
It may not always be easy to pinpoint your symptoms. Believe it or not, it can actually be quite difficult to differentiate cataract symptoms and simply aging eyes. More often than not, symptoms progress gradually. Because of this, it’s completely possible that you may have no idea that you were even having a hard time seeing in the first place.
The number one complaint from individuals with cataracts is the difficulty to see when driving, especially at night. These individuals say they are too sensitive to glare or are seeing halos around bright lights. This is especially worrisome as vehicle headlights, brake lights, and street stoplights shine much brighter in the evening.
Reading can also be extremely difficult for individuals with cataracts, even if they’re using reading glasses. While sometimes they just need more light to see, others say they need a bigger magnifier to see the words properly. It’s not uncommon for an individual to change their eyeglasses prescription often. It’s possible to get new lenses and find it hard to see through six months later.
How Fast Do Cataracts Progress?
As stated, age-related cataracts develop gradually, but other types of cataracts can develop rapidly and treatment may be necessary immediately. Take for example if an individual got an eye injury, it’s possible they could get a traumatic cataract in a few short months. Rapid cataracts could also come from certain medications like steroids.
Could You Also Have Glaucoma?
A glaucoma is a group of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve. If you have both of these, you may need to take more careful consideration when scheduling your surgery.
For individuals who have early signs of glaucoma, cataract surgery alone can suffice. Cataract surgery has the ability to lower the pressure inside the eye which helps prevent additional nerve damage.
Those with more advanced glaucoma that can’t be controlled with medication alone, your doctor may suggest having cataract and glaucoma surgery at the same time.
Can You Put off Cataract Surgery?
Usually, it’s okay to delay cataract surgery. However, you shouldn’t wait too long because as a cataract matures, it becomes harder to remove altogether.
Regardless if you delay your surgery, it’s still important to make an appointment with your laser vision correction center in Los Angeles for an eye exam. Your eye doctor will recommend if and when you might need surgery.
Most people put off their cataract surgery because they are scared of losing their vision or that the procedure is going to be painful. The truth is that more than 95% of cataract surgeries are successful which makes it one of the safest surgeries to perform. As for the pain, there is little to no pain during and after the procedure.
More than anything, it’s important to simply trust your surgeon when getting cataract surgery. They are your best resource for advice on when to schedule the procedure, and to answer any questions you may have to help calm your nerves.
