Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide. Fortunately, cataract surgery offers an effective and safe way to permanently eliminate cataracts and regain clear vision.
Knowing when to have cataract surgery can help you make an informed decision about your vision and eye health. Keep reading to learn more about what age most patients get cataract surgery.
What is a Cataract?
A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens of your eye. It happens when proteins inside the lens start to break down and form clumps.
Cataracts often develop slowly and don’t typically present with symptoms initially. However, over time, a cataract may grow larger and cloud more of your lens, causing symptoms such as:
- Blurred or cloudy vision
- Sensitivity to light
- Halos and glare
- Difficulty seeing at night
- Colors appearing yellow or faded
- Double vision in one eye
- Needing more light when reading and performing other up-close activities
- Changing prescriptions frequently
Are All Cataracts Age-Related?
Most cataracts occur due to aging. This happens due to typical eye changes that start after age 40.
That’s when proteins in the natural lens of your eye begin to break down. Cataracts can also develop earlier, for reasons including:
Family History: If you have a parent or sibling with cataracts, you’re more likely to develop cataracts early.
Health Conditions: Diabetes, particularly when blood glucose levels remain high, can cause changes in your eyes that lead to cataracts.
Eye Injuries: Chemical exposure and blunt or penetrating eye trauma can increase the risk of getting early cataracts.
Eye Conditions: Certain eye conditions, such as uveitis, extreme nearsightedness, and retina pigmentosa, raise the risk of developing cataracts early.
Environmental Factors: Long-term exposure to pesticides, air pollution, industrial chemicals, and the sun’s UV rays can increase free radicals in your eyes, leading to cataract formation.
Radiation Exposure: You may be at a greater risk for early cataracts if you’re exposed to ionizing radiation, such as CT scans and X-rays.
Certain Medications: Long-term use of some medications, such as corticosteroids and phenothiazines, may cause changes in the natural lens of your eyes, leading to cataracts.
Lifestyle Factors: Early cataracts can be induced by smoking, obesity, drinking too much alcohol, and nutritional deficiencies.
At What Age Do Most Patients Get Cataract Surgery?
The right age to have cataract surgery will vary from patient to patient. If you’re diagnosed with cataracts, you’ll likely not need cataract surgery right away.
Cataracts often develop gradually and don’t disturb your eyesight in the early stages. If you start to notice minor vision changes, they can be improved with a stronger prescription, magnifying lenses for reading, polarized sunglasses to minimize glare, using contrasting colors at home to help you see better, and brighter lighting around your house for up-close work.
However, these measures are usually temporary for many patients. As cataracts progress, dim vision, light sensitivity, and other symptoms can become more noticeable and severe.
Activities such as reading, driving, running errands, recognizing faces, texting on your phone, working out, and using your computer may become challenging. When the symptoms of cataracts start to impact your daily activities and hobbies, it’s essential to see your ophthalmologist.
Without surgery, cataracts can compromise your independence and eventually cause vision loss. In some cases, you may need to undergo cataract surgery even when a cataract is not affecting your vision.
This can happen if you have an eye condition like diabetic retinopathy, macular degeneration, or glaucoma. You may need early cataract surgery so your ophthalmologist can get a better view of the back of your eye to manage macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy.
With glaucoma, high eye pressure can damage the optic nerve, causing permanent vision loss. Removing the cataract early may help lower eye pressure and get glaucoma under control.
What are the Benefits of Cataract Surgery?
Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure, meaning you can go home the same day. During the quick, safe, and effective procedure, your cataract surgeon will remove the cataract-affected lens and replace it with an intraocular lens (IOL), restoring clear vision.
Some of the many advantages of cataract surgery include:
Clearer, Sharper Vision
Cataract surgery is a life-changing procedure that reintroduces you to a world of crisp clarity and brighter, more vivid colors. Patients often notice a dramatic improvement in their eyesight within a few days after surgery.
Depending on the IOL you choose, you may even see better than before cataracts. Premium IOLs, such as Multifocal IOLs and the Light Adjustable Lens, can correct vision at all distances, significantly reducing or eliminating the need for glasses or contact lenses following your procedure.
Regaining Independence
With restored vision, you’ll have the confidence to navigate everyday life independently again. You’ll be able to perform routine tasks such as cooking, reading, driving, running errands, and more without depending on others for help due to poor vision.
Enhanced Quality of Life
Improved vision plays a vital role in enhancing your quality of life. With clear vision, you can do the things you love again.
Whether it’s golfing, traveling, going to dance class, or simply enjoying time with friends and family, cataract surgery allows you to do everything with greater ease and renewed confidence.
Reclaim Your Life with Cataract Surgery
You don’t have to live with impaired vision from cataracts. At Herschel LASIK and Cataract Institute, we provide state-of-the-art cataract surgery to help you regain clear, sharp vision.
Do you think it may be time for you to undergo cataract surgery? Schedule your appointment at Herschel LASIK and Cataract Institute in Orlando, FL, today to start your journey to clear, crisp, cataract-free vision.
