Cataracts

Sections

Care & Treatment

Prevention

You can lower the risk of cataracts, or slow them down by: 

  • Seeing your eye doctor regularly 
  • Quitting smoking
  • Decreasing alcohol use
  • Wearing sunglasses or a broad-brimmed hat to block the sun
  • Taking care of other health problems like diabetes
  • Eating plenty of colorful fruits and vegetables, which have the most vitamins, minerals, antioxidants, and other nutrients

Cataract Treatment 

In mild cases

If cataracts are small and do not affect a person’s daily activities, using eyeglasses or contact lenses, anti-glare glasses, or a magnifying glass may work. 

Most eye doctors recommend cataract surgery if the ability to perform normal daily activities  decreases too much.

Cataract removal may be needed if it blocks the ability to treat another eye disease. 

Surgery 

Cataracts can only be removed by surgery. This is a common operation with 90 percent of people having improved vision. Cataract surgery also can improve mental outlook, ability to carry out daily activities, and quality of life

This outpatient surgery usually takes less than 30 minutes. If there are cataracts in both eyes, one eye is treated at a time with a few weeks in between procedures.

Cataract surgery is usually very safe, but it can increase the risk of a detached retina, which must be treated immediately to avoid serious vision loss.

Sudden increases in flashes or floaters can be signs of a detached retina. Tell your healthcare professional about this quickly because this is a medical emergency. 

Contact your healthcare provider immediately after your cataract surgery if you have any inflammation (pain, redness, swelling), bleeding, signs of infection, loss of vision, or double vision.

 

Last Updated May 2023

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