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What is cataract surgery?
A cataract is a painless, cloudy area in the lens of the eye. Cataract surgery removes the clouded lens. In order for you to see, the lens must be replaced. It may be replaced in one of two ways:
* During the surgery, the doctor may implant an artificial lens in the capsule that held the natural lens. Most cataract surgery uses this option. If needed, you may also wear eyeglasses or contact lenses after surgery.
* In a few cases, the doctor may not be able to replace the lens. After your eye has recovered from surgery, you will be fitted with eyeglasses or contact lenses to compensate for the removed natural lens.
Because the surgery involves replacing the lens in your eye, have your doctor review the advantages and disadvantages of contact lenses, glasses, and implanted lenses.
How effective is cataract surgery?
Cataract surgery is safe and effective.
If you do not have another eye condition, such as glaucoma or problems with your retina, your chances of seeing better after cataract surgery are very good. But you may still need reading glasses or glasses for near vision.
Removing a cataract may also reduce your need for eyeglasses or contact lenses by improving other eye problems such as nearsightedness, farsightedness, or astigmatism. But the surgery is not done for this reason alone.
What are the risks of cataract surgery?
Complications of cataract surgery are uncommon.
The most common complication after cataract surgery is clouding of the back part of the lens covering (capsule) that remains after surgery. The cloudiness, which may develop gradually over several months or years, affects about 1 in 4 people within 5 years of having cataract surgery. If the cloudiness affects your vision, you may choose to have another procedure to correct this problem.
Overall, less than 5% of people develop a serious complication after cataract surgery. The risk of blindness after surgery is very low.
Potential complications include:
* Swelling of the retina (cystoid macular edema), which usually goes away on its own within a few weeks.
* New or different astigmatism, which can usually be treated with corrective lenses and will not affect your eyesight.
* Infection of the tissues in the eye (endophthalmitis). It affects less than 1% of people who have cataract surgery. This serious infection can lead to blindness.
* Inflammation of the cornea, glaucoma, uveitis, retinal detachment, and vision problems, which can be caused by bits of the cataract that may have remained in the eye. The doctor can do a procedure called a vitrectomy to remove these particles and improve your vision and tell you buy drugs.
* Development of glaucoma after cataract surgery.
* Retinal detachment. People who have had cataract surgery are at increased risk for retinal detachment.
Some of these complications can be successfully treated with an additional procedure or surgery. But even with treatment, these complications may leave you with poor vision or blindness in the affected eye. In some cases, the treatment itself may also cause further complications.
Your vision may be cloudy for up to 3 months after cataract surgery. This is normal and will go away as your eye heals.
What are the risks of not having cataract surgery?
If you choose not to have cataract surgery, the cataract and its effect on your vision will most likely continue to slowly get worse. This may affect your ability to do your everyday activities and drive safely, especially at night. Vision problems may lead to falls, accidents, and injuries.
Cataract surgery may have a slightly higher risk of complications if the cataract is severe. In the United States and in other countries where advanced surgical techniques are available, cataracts rarely cause blindness.
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