Cataract surgery is a relatively simple surgery that is offered to patients who feel like they are losing their vision due to cataracts on the eyes.
This is a condition that is not painful, but it will have an impact on the quality of life. It’s estimated that 1 in 2 people over the age of 80 will suffer from some level of cataracts during their lifetime, some of whom may wish to consider surgery to fix the problem
If you are facing the need for cataract surgery, search for Cataract surgery near me to get a list of cataract surgeons in your area who can help you to regain your vision
Getting an Eye Exam
Most optometrists will say that any changes in your vision that are impairing your ability to see should be investigated by a professional. Once an adult reaches the age of 40, the risk of degenerative eye issues like cataracts and glaucoma quickly begins to rise and it’s advised that over 40s have regular eye tests every two years to help spot any issues. Once a patient reaches the age of 65, the testing time should be increased to once every year.
The effects of cataracts on the eyes can be subtle and difficult to notice at first, which is why a professional should be sought in order to get a proper diagnosis. A professional optometrist will be able to test things like the sharpness of your vision, and they may dilate your pupils with specialist eye drops to allow them to look closely at the inside of your eyes.
It’s not just cataracts that these additional exams cover either – other problems such as glaucoma and retinal degeneration can only be spotted by professionals.
Booking in for Your Cataract Surgery
Cataracts is not a condition that will go away on its own, and other topical treatments such as eye drops won’t help in the long term.
Eventually, all patients who are struggling with cataracts will need to have cataract surgery to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with a synthetic clear lens instead. Although cataracts isn’t a life-threatening condition, it can have a huge impact on your quality of life, leading to issues further down the road. This means it’s a good idea to get it checked out by an optometrist first, and then get a referral for the surgery. Furthermore, if your eyesight is impaired and you give up hobbies that you enjoy, such as knitting or completing crosswords, your mental health will likely suffer. Not only that, but as hobbies keep the mind sharp, not sorting out cataracts can store up trouble for the future.
Health Worries
When your cataracts are interfering with your daily life so much that your judgment about important things such as the stairs will suddenly become impaired, which can be especially challenging for tasks such as walking or cooking.
As much as 50% of elderly patients will get cataracts during their lives, and only a small proportion of those go on to get corrective surgery.
