If you’re someone who is looking to learn more about cataract surgery and have heard some common myths about cataract surgery, this article is for you.
It is important to know what myths to believe, in order to understand the real pros and cons of this surgery, and then choose the right treatment path.
In this article, we will provide you with the right facts about cataract surgery. So if you find yourself asking whether cataract surgery is safe, or what the risks of the procedure are, read on to learn more about:
- If cataract surgery is dangerous
- Whether the recovery process is likely to take months
- If cataract surgery can be postponed
- If cataract surgery is painful
- If cataract surgery has many long term benefits.
Let’s get into it!
Myth 1: Cataract Surgery is Extremely Dangerous
It is normal to be anxious about the risks that come with undergoing surgery. While all surgery, including cataract surgery have risks, the procedure is considered low risk.
Less than 1 in every 100 people will need to stay in hospital longer than intended after surgery, for example.
Additionally, most people will not go under general anesthesia when having cataract surgery, which is often the most risky part of surgery.
This, together with significant safety advancements in cataract surgery has made the procedure very low risk.
“Cataract surgery continues to be a very safe surgical procedure with few patients experiencing serious sight-threatening adverse events”
- Joshua D. Stein, MD, MS
Myth 2: Recovery Takes Several Months
People who have undergone cataract surgery do not usually take a long time to recover from the procedure. You can expect a full recovery within weeks, not months.
In fact, most people will recover within 2–6 weeks. Most people will be able to begin to drive a week after cataract surgery, once they have been cleared by their doctor.
To ensure a smoother recovery, it is important to follow your doctor’s instructions. This includes using your prescribed eye drops, wearing sunglasses and keeping your eyes clean.
Myth 3: Cataract Surgery Can Be Easily Postponed
Cataract surgery is the key way to treat cataracts and is important to protect and restore vision. The surgery should not be postponed, unless it is absolutely necessary.
There are various risks involved in postponing surgery, including:
- Worsening vision: Left untreated, cataracts will gradually result in worsening vision. This includes blurry, and cloudy vision that makes every day activities challenging, and potentially dangerous.
- Increased injury risk: We often rely on our vision to keep us safe. Whether that be when driving, walking, or navigating through life. Losing our eyesight is dangerous, especially for people who are not used to being visually impaired. This increases the risk of injuries to yourself, and to others.
- Increases surgery risks: If you postpone surgery, your cataracts will likely become thicker and harder. This makes the surgery more difficult in the future, increasing the risks of complications.
- Worsening mental health: Cataracts can take away a lot from our lives. Whilst our vision suffers, there is also a decline in mental health. Studies have found that people with untreated cataracts are more likely to develop depression, for example.
Myth 4: Cataract Surgery is Painful
Cataract surgery is not painful. During cataract surgery, a team of doctors will ensure that you do not feel pain during the surgery.
During the surgery, you will be given sedatives.
This will help you relax, and for most people, forget the surgery itself. Together with this, you will be given painkillers. This includes numbing eye drops in your eyes, so you do not feel anything.
After the procedure, you will be sent home with painkillers. If you do experience pain, it is important to take the painkillers as prescribed, to avoid any discomfort during the recovery.
Myth 5: Cataract Surgery Does Not Offer Long-Term Benefits
There are many benefits to cataract surgery, both short term, and long term.
Long term benefits include:
- Improved quality of vision: Unsurprisingly, improved vision is one of the main long term benefits of cataract surgery. This includes bettering near and far-sightedness.
- Better mental health: Cataracts are associated with poor mental health, including an increased risk of depression. By protecting eyesight with cataract surgery we protect our mental health.
- Improved quality of life: Studies looking at the effects of quality of life after cataract surgery have found significant improvements in quality of life.
“Cataracts are the world’s leading cause of remediable blindness…the treatment is cataract surgery”
-Majid Moshirfar, University of Utah/John Moran Eye Center
Conclusion
It is normal to have some concerns and worries when it comes to any surgery, and cataract surgery is no different. It is important to understand some of the common cataract surgery myths, and facts, before you decide on the surgery.
Some common myths, which are for the most part untrue include: that the surgery is extremely dangerous, that the recovery takes several months, that the surgery can easily be postponed, that the surgery is painful and that there are limited long term benefits to the surgery.
Cataract surgery offers numerous benefits for people who have a decline in eye vision. The surgery is quick, low risk and does not require long recovery times.
If you are wondering if cataract surgery is right for you, ask a medical professional, such as the team of ophthalmologists at Texan Eye Care.
Finding a Local Ophthalmologist
If you are in the Texas area, there are a list of ophthalmologists in your area who are trained to recognize, diagnose and treat cataracts. It is easy to book an appointment at Texan Eye Care with the team of specialist operative physicians, who can guide you through the process of cataract surgery.
If you are concerned about your, or a loved one’s, eyesight it is important to seek an expert medical opinion as soon as possible. Many eye conditions are best treated early on, as this ensures that your eyesight has the biggest chance of improvement.
