Cataracts are a medical condition that occurs when all or part of the eye lens is obscured by the clouding of tissue. As a result, an individual with cataracts will experience blurred or partially-blocked vision. If left untreated, cataracts generally continue to worsen, sometimes leading to a state of total blindness.
Unlike other medical conditions, there is no apparent benefit to having cataracts removed sooner than later. In general, doctors do not recommend having a cataract removed if it is not causing a significant loss of vision or difficulty during normal daily activities. On the other hand, patients who are experiencing serious blurring or blockage of their vision that is directly affecting their quality of life are encouraged to consider having their cataracts surgically removed.
Because there is some recovery time required after laser cataract removal surgery, a patient who has cataracts in both eyes will usually have each eye operated upon separately with several weeks of rest in between. This way, the patient will have at least one “good eye” to see with after the second surgery, and his or her surgeon can be sure that the first surgery did not have any significant complications.
If you are experiencing a significant loss of vision due to cataracts and are having a hard time carrying out your usual activities, it’s time to start thinking about laser cataract removal surgery. Contact Eye Michigan to make an appointment with one of our ophthalmologists. One of our doctors will examine your eyes for cataracts and help you determine whether you are a good candidate for surgery.