You know all too well how cataracts have affected your vision and activities of daily living, from cloudy, blurry or dim vision to difficulty reading street signs, and you might not have even noticed that you’ve been experiencing a gradual dulling of the colors in the world around you. But did you know that treating cataracts with surgery can have lasting benefits beyond improved vision.
Longer Life Expectancy
Research published by the American Academy of Ophthalmology’s, Ophthalmology, found increased mortality risk for older Australians with visual impairments when compared to their peers with normal vision. Having adjusted for age, gender, and a number of mortality risk factors, including hypertension, diabetes, smoking, cardiovascular disease, body mass index and measures of frailty, researcher found that visually impaired patients had a 40 percent lower long-term mortality risk in those who had the cataract surgery. These findings suggest that improvements in physical and emotional well-being, optimism, greater confidence associated with independent living after vision improvement, as well as greater ability to comply with prescription medications could be reasons for patients living longer after cataract surgery.
People with cataracts often are unaware of the subtle
changes in lifestyle and mobility that they adopt as they await the “right
time” for cataract surgery. Almost always, people who have cataract surgery
immediately feel an improved quality of life from the restored freedom of clear
vision, especially for those who wish to continue
to drive. A recent
study also tells us that the choice of lens implant can play a role in
restoring driving habits. When you schedule an appointment for a cataract
evaluation or if you are visiting us for a cataract eye exam before surgery,
please be sure to discuss and advise us of your driving habits and
desires-especially night driving-so that we can counsel you on the different
types of lens implants that we might use to help you return to a comfortable,
convenient, safe and active driving experience along with the other activities that
the cataract might have limited for you.
Reducing
Risks
Delaying cataract surgery can have unexpected consequences
also. Systemic disease, ocular trauma,
poor healthcare of the eye or body, and exposure
to cigarette and cigar smoke, radiation, certain medications, cataracts
can advance more quickly. The effects of
advancing cataracts may lead to impaired night vision, halos and glare, double vision and light sensitivity,
resulting in increased driving risks. Left untreated, cataracts can lead
to vision loss and total blindness in some cases.
Overcoming
Anxieties
Perhaps you have
been concerned that the experience itself will be uncertain. A 2016 German study found 99% of patients reported the visual color experience
during surgery to be either pleasant or neutral,
while the majority of patients at Center for Sight have reported being very
comfortable.
Increased
COVID Precautions and Safety Measures
Our Ambulatory
Surgery Center, East Bay Surgery Center in Swansea, has set up extensive
protocols to help patients access the critical care they need, and keep them
safe.
If you or someone you know has questions about cataracts, cataract surgery or lens implants, please feel free to call Center for Sight at 508-730-2020, visit www.center-for-sight.com or www.facebook.com/centerforsightfallriver to schedule an appointment.
