Avoiding Cataract Surgery Has Risks
Cataracts are a very common eye condition that becomes worse over a period of time and consistently impair the vision of an affected person. This can ultimately lead to difficulties in performing daily tasks such as driving and impact the overall quality and enjoyment of one’s life.
Almost 1 out of every 6 people in the United States over 40 years of age has cataracts. It is true that several patients encounter some degree of blindness when left with untreated cataracts. In fact, the condition could also lead to complete blindness in some patients who avoid treatment for very long. It is nearly impossible to do an accurate prediction of the rate at which cataracts may worsen. It is suggested that is a patient notices a worsening of vision before the next scheduled eye appointment, then it is best not to wait and see the eye doctor immediately. The good news is that, while patients with severe cataracts can be funtionally blind, laser cataract surgery will reverse this condition as long as there are no other eye health problems.
Treating Cataracts: Your Options
In certain cases of cataracts, a change in the eyeglass prescription might help improve vision when the cataract is becoming worse. But this isn’t always helpful. At other times, the application of anti-reflective coating to the eyeglasses might lead to significant improvements in the night vision if a person has mild cataracts. There aren’t any medications or eye drops that could help reverse or prevent cataract formation. Hence, the only solution is laser cataract surgery.
You might feel apprehensive after reading the word ‘surgery’, but the cataracts operation is actually among the safest and most effective procedures performed in America and globally. Advanced technologies such as micro- incision surgery and laser-assisted surgery are now facilitating cataracts removal in the most comfortable and least invasive fashion.
Impact of Avoiding Cataract Surgery
Cataracts basically refers to a clouding of your natural eye lens (loss of lens flexibility). There is a gradual accumulation of protein in the eye lens and it loses its ability to allow the passing of light. If you have cataracts, it is unlikely that your vision will improve; in fact, it will keep deteriorating. Ophthalmologists advise removal of the damaged lens through surgery so that an artificial one can be put in its place. If cataract is left untreated, it could become “hyper-mature”. This is means that it would be even harder to treat the condition and cataract surgery may entail complications. In general, better results are assured when cataract surgery is performed immediately after vision difficulties start to develop.
