In most people, cataracts start developing around age 60, and the average age for cataract surgery in the United States is 73.
Age is the greatest risk factor for cataracts. Age-related cataracts may develop between 40 and 50 years old. Where you live. Recent studies have shown that people who live in high altitudes are more at risk of developing cataracts.
The simplest answer is this: The right time for surgery is when your cataracts have begun to interfere with your quality of life, and glasses and/or contacts no longer satisfy your visual needs.
Cataract surgery is safe for all ages. There is no age limit on when you can get the surgery.
There is no single recommended age to get refractive cataract surgery. Cataracts normally develop after age 40, and some people elect for early intervention to restore their vision sooner. Patients can also delay their procedure until they're in a more convenient place in life.
This might all sound serious, but cataract surgery is the most commonly performed elective procedure in Australia, with the average age for surgery being just under 76 years¹, and 90% of cataract operations performed on those aged 60 years and over ².
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.
However, there are some patients who don't meet the requirements for cataract surgery: Are in poor health or have a serious medical condition. Have advanced macular degeneration. Have a detached retina.
While many people will obtain 20/20 vision from their IOL, 30 to 50 percent of people who choose a monofocal IOL will still require corrective lenses after surgery. Schedule a consultation with an eye doctor near you to see if you qualify for surgery.
Cataracts may become more difficult to be removed once they become mature. This is why many doctors advise patients to have surgery earlier on, as soon as vision is affected on a regular basis.
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.
How long do cataract lenses last, and does cataract surgery last a lifetime? A cataract lens will last a lifetime, and the vast majority of patients do not experience any complications with their lenses after cataract surgery.
Glare, halos and other unwanted images
Many cataract patients experience “unwanted visual images” after surgery, also known as dyphotopsia. Glare, halos and streaks of light are examples of positive dysphotopsia. They occur more frequently at night or in dim lighting, and are more common with multifocal lenses.
Cataracts are a natural part of growing older. However, repeated exposure to UV radiation without eye protection can amplify and speed up this process.
For the first few days after your surgery, it's normal to have blurred or double vision and watery/gritty eyes. Your eyes may also look red or bloodshot. These side effects will normally subside within a few days, but it can take four-six weeks for your eye to fully heal.
No, your vision generally doesn't deteriorate after cataract surgery unless other problems arise, such as macular degeneration or glaucoma.
Sometimes after surgery, blood vessels in the retina leak. As fluid collects in your eye, it blurs your vision. Your doctor will treat it with eye drops, and it could take weeks or months to heal. It usually gets completely better.
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.
Is the operation painful? Cataract surgery is not at all painful. Most patients describe a mild sensation of pressure around the eye. In some cases, we may use local anaesthesia (administered via eye drops) or perform a small anaesthetic block around the eye.
High success rates
Its success rate is about 99 percent. Complications from cataract surgery are rare but may include corneal swelling and/or inflammation in the eyes.
Cloudy or blurry vision
This is the most common symptom of cataracts. It can affect both distance and reading vision which may appear foggy. If left untreated, the clouding of the lens means the cataract will worsen, with less light able to get through the lens.
A cortical cataract begins as whitish, wedge-shaped opacities or streaks on the outer edge of the lens cortex. As it slowly progresses, the streaks extend to the center and interfere with light passing through the center of the lens. Cataracts that affect the back of the lens (posterior subcapsular cataracts).
So too is the development of cataracts, a clouding of the natural lens of the eye. “By age 65, 90% of individuals have some level of cataracts,” says Dr.