Who is an Ideal Candidate for Cataract Surgery?

You might discover you have cataracts during a routine eye exam, or you might notice a pronounced blurring of your vision during your day-to-day life. Cataracts occur when the eye’s crystalline lens starts to grow cloudy. This typically happens after the age of forty; the majority of cataract patients are 50 years old or older. But cataracts have been known to strike people of every age group, so any blurred or foggy vision should be checked out by your eye doctor.

During the assessment, your eye doctors will be able to tell if you have the beginning stages of cataracts. At this stage, surgery won’t be necessary. Your doctor will simply observe the progression of the cataracts through routine visits until they begin to affect your vision.

Once the doctor deems that surgery is appropriate, you will be screened to make sure you’re an ideal candidate for cataract surgery. The doctor will need to know whether or not you suffer from other eye conditions. Severe conditions may prevent you from being a good candidate for the procedure. If you have an eye injury or infection, it will need to be cleared up before your cataract surgery. The doctor will prescribe medicine to expedite your healing.

Age is not a disqualifying factor for cataract surgery. Patients who have negative reactions to anesthesia can still undergo cataract surgery if they choose to stay awake throughout. Instead of being given general anesthesia, these patients receive a local anesthetic that numbs their eyes and the area around them.

The most important factor in determining whether or not you’re a good candidate for cataract surgery is the severity of your condition. If your vision is affected on mildly, or not at all, then surgery isn’t needed. When you start to have significant visual impairment, you should see your eye doctor immediately. It’s better to perform the surgery before the cataracts progress too far.

Note that your doctor might elect to postpone the surgery. This could be due to another illness or underlying health condition. Ask the doctor to explain their decision to wait. If there’s another health concern that makes you an unsuitable candidate, you’ll need to address it before you can undergo cataract surgery.