What Happens if I Don’t Have Cataract Surgery?

What Happens if I Don’t Have Cataract Surgery?

So, you’ve been diagnosed with a cataract and your doctor recommends surgery. You’re not alone. It is estimated that globally 10 million cataract operations are performed each year. But even though it is a very common surgery, it is still a surgery. Many people find themselves wondering, “What would happen if I didn’t have cataract surgery?” To answer that question, let’s start with what cataract surgery entails.

 

A cataract is a condition where the lens (behind the iris) of the eye becomes cloudy and can cause vision to be hazy and less colorful. Some people experience vision loss with cataracts. Cataract surgery involves removing the lens that has the cataract and replacing it with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens, or IOL. When a cataract keeps you from doing things you want or need to do, your eye doctor will usually recommend removing it.

 

Cataract surgery is typically a brief outpatient procedure that can restore clear vision and allow you to enjoy every day activities again. Of course there are risks inherent in every surgery, but what if you elect to not have cataract surgery? Are there risks in delaying or avoiding cataract surgery? Here are four:

 

1. Difficulty in participating in daily activities.

 

While many cataracts grow slowly, over time the cloudy area in the lens may actually get larger, causing vision to become more and more impaired. Without cataract surgery you may find yourself unable to enjoy activities like reading books, playing cards or watching television, hobbies like knitting, crafts or woodworking, or even everyday chores like cleaning the house.

 

2. Difficulty in safely driving after dark

 

Unfortunately, cataracts can significantly impair night vision. In fact, it’s often one of the first symptoms of cataracts. Because cataracts scatter the light that comes into your eyes they can cause halos around light sources like streetlights, lit signs and headlights from oncoming traffic. When your night vision is diminished and you get behind the wheel, it puts both you and other drivers at risk.

 

3. Vision loss

 

If left untreated for long periods of time cataracts may even impair vision completely. In fact, cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in the world. Cataracts continue to worsen over time, continually reducing vision, but its impossible to predict how quickly or slowly they will grow.

 

4. Higher risk surgery when cataracts become severe

 

When cataracts are left untreated they can become what is known as “hyper-mature,” a condition that makes them more difficult to remove. Removing a “hyper-mature” cataract also carries higher risks of surgical complications than removing one less severe.

 

While most cataracts don’t require immediate removal, they will progressively worsen over time. When they prevent you from being active and productive and negatively affect the overall quality of your life, it is definitely time to talk to your doctor about removing them.

 

Talk with a qualified doctor who can answer your questions and help you choose the right lens for you.

 

References:

https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-is-cataract-surgery

http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/faq-cataract-left-untreated.htm

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC1705965/