Is cataract surgery fairly safe?

A cataract is a form of clouding that happens on the eye’s lens and is usually a normal part of the aging process. The condition causes vision loss that can’t be fixed with corrective lenses or corneal refractive surgeries. However, modern cataract surgery is a highly effective procedure and is also very safe.

Is 60 too early for cataract surgery?

Typically, most cataract procedures are performed after the age of 60 due to the aging process, however some patients may develop cataracts earlier around age 50. It is not uncommon to see cataracts in very young patients in their teens and 20’s for various reasons.

Is cataract surgery high risk?

A cataract causes the lens to become cloudy, which eventually affects your vision. Cataract surgery is performed by an eye doctor (ophthalmologist) on an outpatient basis, which means you don’t have to stay in the hospital after the surgery. Cataract surgery is very common and is generally a safe procedure.

Is cataract surgery safe for seniors?

Cataract surgery is dangerous for older adults: Thanks to years of technological advancements, cataract surgery is widely regarded as one of the safest medical procedures, with a success rate of 95-98\%. Patients often only need minimal sedation, which allows those in their 80s and 90s to undergo the operation.

Has anyone ever died during cataract surgery?

Mortality incidence was 2.78 deaths per 100 person-years in patients with cataract surgery and 2.98 deaths per 100 person-years in patients without surgery (P < 0.0001).

How bad does a cataract have to be before surgery?

A cataract does not have to become “ripe” before it can be removed. In the past, the lens could not be extracted safely from the eye unless it was at a relatively advanced stage of development. With modern advances in cataract surgery, the lens can now be removed from the eye at any stage of development.

What is the average age for needing cataract surgery?

In most people, cataracts start developing around age 60, and the average age for cataract surgery in the United States is 73.

When is the best time of year to have cataract surgery?

One of the best reasons for scheduling your cataract surgery for wintertime is so that your eyes will be healed and seeing clearly in time for all the natural beauty and outdoor activity that comes with warmer weather.

What is the failure rate of cataract surgery?

Most people do exceedingly well with cataract surgery. Its success rate is about 99 percent. Complications from cataract surgery are rare but may include corneal swelling and/or inflammation in the eyes.

Who should not have cataract surgery?

For example, if you have advanced macular degeneration or a detached retina as well as cataracts, it’s possible that removing the cataract and replacing it with a clear intraocular lens (IOL) might not improve your eyesight. In such cases, cataract surgery may not be recommended.

Has anyone ever died from cataract surgery?

When is cataract surgery not recommended?

Are cataracts treatable in older people?

However, the good news is that it is almost always treatable. Around 95\% of people who receive cataract surgery find that their vision returns to the level experienced before the cataract developed. Because cataracts primarily affect older people, some patients wonder if they are still suitable for surgery even at an advanced age.

Who is most at risk for Secondary cataract surgery?

However, certain circumstances make people more likely to experience the side effect, such as being younger than 60 at the time of cataract surgery or having already had glaucoma or retina surgery. (LASIK surgery to improve vision does not increase the risk for secondary cataracts.)

Should I have a cataract operation?

For many people, a cataract will have no real impact on day-to-day life, and in such cases, it is not recommended to have a cataract operation unless the impact on vision worsens. Unlike laser eye surgery, cataract removal is not an elective procedure and should only be carried out if deemed necessary by you and your surgeon.

How common are cataracts in the US?

According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), an estimated 20.5 million (17.2 percent) Americans aged 40 years and older have cataract in one or both eyes, and 6.1 million (5.1 percent) have had their lens removed operatively. The total number of people who have cataracts is estimated to increase to 30.1 million by 2020.