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 most people, cataracts start developing around age 60, and the average age for cataract surgery in the United States is 73. However, changes in the lenses of our eyes start to affect us in our 40's.
The Australian Institute of Health and Welfare (AIHW) reported that 10.6% of Australians waited longer than 365 days to be admitted for cataract surgery in 2021 to 2022. But getting an appointment for the initial assessment can take even longer – sometimes years.
Cataracts affect over 700,000 Australian's and is one of the most common reasons people require eye surgery. Surgery success rates are over 99% in Australia and in the 1% of complications, only 1 in 500 of these are severe.
One of the benefits of having early cataract surgery is that it can help you maintain your vision for longer periods of time. By having the procedure done sooner rather than later, you can improve your vision sooner and reduce your risk for falls and other health problems in the future related to poor eyesight.
Some Don'ts: Things to Avoid
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. Avoid getting irritants in your eyes.
Cataract surgery poses certain risks. You may need to stop taking medications prior to surgery, which could put your health at risk. After surgery, your eyes need to heal, and you'll have to wear an eye patch for several days. You might experience itching, discomfort, or pain during this process.
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.
After cataract surgery is performed, some patients find that they do not need to wear glasses, or may only need them for near duties, e.g. reading and/or computer work. The need for glasses post-surgery will vary depending on which surgery pathway you choose.
The full recovery period for cataract surgery typically lasts around 8 weeks, during which you will likely have several follow-up appointments with your eye doctor to ensure proper healing. While the full recovery period lasts around two months, 9 out of 10 patients are seeing better immediately following surgery.
Is cataract surgery covered by Medicare? Many, but not all, costs incurred for cataract surgery are covered by Australia's Medicare system. The Medicare safety net only applies to items that attract a Medicare benefit, and only to medical care provided in the clinic.
Cataract surgery costs vary from clinic-to-clinic and it's almost impossible to single out which offers the best treatment. You can expect to pay anything between £1,500-4,500 depending on the clinic. The most expensive cataract surgery costs around £4,500 for a multifocal lens at Centre for Sight.
When left untreated, cataracts become denser and further impair vision. If a cataract is left untreated for too long, it becomes what is sometimes called “hyper-mature.” When this occurs, the cataract has become more dense, more difficult to remove, and more likely to cause complications during surgery.
Cataracts are a natural part of growing older. However, repeated exposure to UV radiation without eye protection can amplify and speed up this process. Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide, so it's important to protect yourself however you can.
Age 55-59 - 9.14 percent. Age 60-64 - 15.45 percent. Age 65-69 - 24.73 percent. Age 70-74 - 36.49 percent.
Blurred vision is a common reaction to cataract surgery because your eyes need time to heal and adjust to the lens your doctor implanted.
For driving, the minimal amount of time before you should be OK to drive is 24 hours after the fact, though you are strongly advised to wait for confirmation from your doctor based on your follow-up examination. Everyone reacts differently to cataract surgery, so some people might recover more quickly than others.
In general, after cataract surgery people do not need glasses for distance viewing– this means for activities such as driving, golf or watching TV, you should not need to continue wearing glasses. However, in many circumstances people still may need glasses for reading or near work.
“High eye pressure can interfere with the incision before it fully heals,” says Eghrari. “Positions that put your head below your waist, such as bending over, can also increase eye pressure and should be avoided initially after surgery.”
Avoid heavy lifting, exercise, and other strenuous activities. Exercise can cause complications while you're healing. You're at higher risk of having an accident if you're doing anything physically taxing. So take it easy for a while!
How long should you wear an eye shield after cataract surgery? People may need to wear an eye shield for 1 week after surgery.
It is very common to have blurry or unclear vision in the days and sometimes even weeks after cataract removal. Most of the time, this is caused by normal swelling in the eye which occurs as a part of surgery. Patients with larger, denser and/or firmer cataracts are more likely to experience more inflammation.
Don't: Eat or Drink Right Before the Surgery
While under sedation, there is a chance of stomach acid going into your lungs, which can cause damage.