However, every surgery entails risks and cataract surgery is no exception. Endophthalmitis is the only complication that can cause permanent vision loss. Its incidence is less than 0.04% to 0.2% in individuals at risk.
The official published number is that only 0.5% of cataract surgery patients encounter severe postoperative complications such as blindness.
It's A Safe, Low-Risk Surgery
Any surgery carries some risk, and cataract surgery is no different. As far as surgeries go, cataract surgery is very low-risk. A small percentage of patients will experience complications. An even smaller percentage experience serious complications.
A long-term consequence of cataract surgery is posterior capsular opacification (PCO). PCO is the most common complication of cataract surgery.
No, your vision generally doesn't deteriorate after cataract surgery unless other problems arise, such as macular degeneration or glaucoma. In cataract surgery, the eye doctor (ophthalmologist) removes the clouded lens from your eye and replaces it with a clear, artificial lens.
Mayo Clinic explains that most people still need to wear glasses, at least for some activities, following cataract surgery. Your vision should be greatly improved, but you will still need to get a new prescription for your glasses.
A cataract lens will last a lifetime, and the vast majority of patients do not experience any complications with their lenses after cataract surgery. In fact, the most common post-cataract surgery issue has nothing to do with your lens in particular.
According to the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS), three million Americans undergo cataract surgery each year, with an overall success rate of 98 percent or higher.
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.
In most people, cataracts start developing around age 60, and the average age for cataract surgery in the United States is 73.
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.
With that said, cataracts often advance slowly — and during their early stages, they may cause very little disruption. In these cases, busy schedules, fear of needles, or other healthcare problems make it easy to hit the “snooze button” and postpone surgery.
Many people assume that cataract surgery will give them "perfect" 20/20 vision, but this isn't always the case. In fact, some people may still need glasses or contacts to see clearly after surgery. But this doesn't mean the procedure isn't worth it!.
Cataract surgery is considered a low-risk surgery. An estimated 98 percent of these surgeries do not have any adverse effects.
A posterior subcapsular cataract often interferes with your reading vision, reduces your vision in bright light, and causes glare or halos around lights at night. These types of cataracts tend to progress faster than other types do.
Doctors suggest winter as a good time to get the surgery done as the season can help you recover quickly. But it is not really stringent, all you need to keep in mind is if the vision is getting excessively blurred and your daily activities are getting hampered, then get the cataract removed as soon as possible.
Depending on the IOL you choose for your cataract surgery, it may take three to six weeks before your vision fully stabilizes. You may find it especially difficult to adjust to monovision.
take it easy for the first 2 to 3 days. use your eye shield at night for at least a week. take painkillers if you need to. bathe or shower yourself as usual.
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.
A secondary cataract, or “after-cataract,” is a misnomer and not really a cataract at all. This issue occurs when an opaque film grows over the sac or membrane that holds your new lens in place. This can make your vision become cloudy or blurry again, mimicking the original symptoms of cataracts.
Typically, you'll have the procedures about two to six weeks apart. This way, the first eye has time to heal. Your vision can return in the first eye before the second surgery.
Keep water, soap, shampoo, hair spray, and shaving lotion out of your eye, especially for the first week. Do not rub or put pressure on your eye for at least 1 week. Do not wear eye makeup for 1 to 2 weeks. You may also want to avoid face cream or lotion.
It often can be used to reduce the need for glasses as well. Cataract Surgery is an important decision. The surgery takes a few minutes but the preparation behind the scenes is critical. It's typically done on an outpatient basis, meaning that the patient immediately returns home following the procedure.
Eighty-seven percent of survey participants said they felt more independent thanks to clear vision after cataract surgery.
What Does Cataract Surgery Cost? Without insurance, the average cataract surgery cost is around $1,789 to $2,829 (depending on the type of facility you visit). With Medicare, the average cost is $357 to $565. A standard operation is typically considered medically necessary by Medicare and will be covered.