Cataracts are a leading cause of blindness in older adults in the United States. More than half of all Americans have cataracts by the age of 80.
Can Cataracts Cause Blindness?
Yes - if left untreated, cataracts cause persistent loss of vision, eventually leading to legal blindness or even complete blindness.
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| Can Cataracts Cause Blindness? |
But when people hear the word "blindness," many assume that severe vision loss is permanent and cannot be cured. In the case of blindness caused by cataracts, vision can usually be successfully restored with cataract surgery and the implantation of an intraocular lens (IOL).
And the visual outcomes of modern cataract surgery are so good that a person who was legally blind before surgery is often able to see well enough to drive without glasses after cataract extraction and IOL implantation.
For best results from cataract surgery, however, it is usually recommended to have surgery before the cataract causes low vision or legal blindness.
Advanced cataracts that cause severe vision loss are more difficult to remove and increase the risk of cataract surgery complications. You can read here Cataract Surgery Post Care: Dos & Don’ts After Cataract Surgery
Can Cataract Surgery Be Redone?
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| Can Cataract Surgery Be Redone? |
Cataract surgery cannot be reversed, as the eye's natural lens is removed during the cataract procedure and cannot be put back.
But if a problem with the intraocular lens (IOL) used during your procedure develops or a complication of another type of cataract surgery develops, some aspects of the surgery may be adjusted or redone. This may involve replacing or removing the IOL and replacing it with a different lens.
For example, if a multifocal IOL is fitted to correct presbyopia and does not provide sufficient near-vision or it causes halos or other vision problems, it may be removed and a separate presbyopia-corrected Can be replaced with IOLs or traditional single vision IOLs.
Cataract surgery is one of the safest and most frequently performed surgical procedures in the United States. The need to modify the cataract procedure is rare.
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