5 Encouraging Facts About Cataract Surgery

Cloudy vision is a common issue associated with aging. Some eye conditions can only be stopped and further damage prevented by early detection and action, but cataracts are one of the few that can usually be completely resolved with a simple surgery.

Our eye health specialists at Ventura Eye Institute in Camarillo, California, want you to be educated about cataracts, so you can make informed decisions about your eye care and not have to deal with unnecessary anxiety or fears about cataract surgery.

Cataracts 101

One of the leading causes of blindness worldwide, cataracts occur when proteins in the eye's lens begin to clump together. This causes a slowly spreading opacity and blurry or clouded vision that worsens as more of the lens is occluded. 

Early symptoms of cataracts include: 

• Sensitivity to light
• Diplopia (double vision)
• Bad night vision 
• Difficulty with reading fine print 

A history of eye inflammation, a family history of cataracts, and advancing age all increase your risk of developing cataracts. Fortunately, cataract surgery is highly successful, and techniques are continually improving. 

5 encouraging facts about cataract surgery

Surgery can be a scary word, but when it comes to cataracts, the upsides are huge, and the experience is mild. Here’s what you should know about cataract surgery:

1. Cataract surgery can be done at any time

Unlike many eye diseases that cause vision loss, you don’t have to act immediately to rescue what’s left of your sight. Cataracts are completely reversible by a simple surgery that replaces the clouded lens of your eye with a new intraocular lens (IOL) that clears your vision.  

2. You’ll only need surgery done once per eye

Unlike your natural lenses, IOLS don’t collect protein and won’t cloud over time. This means having surgery once on each affected eye should keep your vision cataract-free in the years ahead.  

3. You can treat other eye issues with premium IOLS

Premium IOLS don’t just get rid of cataracts; they can also resolve common refractive errors, like near- and far-sightedness. After having cataract surgery, you might be able to get rid of your contacts or eyeglasses.

4. The surgery itself is over in a blink

One of the best things about cataract surgery is that the operation itself only takes about 10-15 minutes per eye. Recovery usually takes about 8 weeks, but discomfort is light, and you won’t have any stitches to deal with since the entire process is completed through a tiny incision.

5. Success rates are incredibly high

The success rate for cataract surgery is estimated at 97% or higher, which is a very good statistic to know. That’s a higher success rate than many other types of surgery, and you’ll be seeing clearly again in almost no time.

At Ventura Eye Institute, we help you find answers about eye diseases like cataracts and solutions like cataract surgery. Call 805-388-1211 or visit our contact page to schedule an appointment.