Risks of Cataract Surgery for an Eldery Person Aged 70 Years?

asked 1 year ago by 2010E in UK
Latest answer by Mark Golden, MD
Question viewed 407 times
Tags: age 65-74, blurry vision, cataract, risk

For future reading purposes, we were advised to do cataract surgery as the vision is getting blur. 1. How long does the surgery lasts? 2. Will there any side effect that need to follow up as years go on? 3. Will the cataract return? 4. What to expect after the surgery? 5. What do we need to know in advance before the surgery? Many thanks.

7 answers to Risks of Cataract Surgery for an Eldery Person Aged 70 Years?

Cataract Surgery

Everyone who lives long enough will eventually develop cataracts. A cataract is when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy. I tell patients that the time for cataract surgery is when you cannot see to do what you want to do. Cataract surgery, in competent hands, is quick, painless and has an extremely high success rate. Age is not a factor, but your surgeon should be aware of your medical history.

Mark Golden, MD
Chicago Ophthalmologist

Cataract surgery lasts about 15 minutes

The surgery lasts about 15 minutes, and the lens is made of plastic that should lasts the rest of your life. You still need to check for other eye conditions such as glaucoma and macular degeneration. The surgery is painless and has the benefit of a rapid recovery and excellent vision results. The surgeon should offer lots of educational and instructive material. Looks like you have already begun to do your homework. Good luck!

Christopher Coad, MD
New York Ophthalmologist

www.lasikdoctornyc.com

Risks of Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery around the age of 70 is quite normal in the U.S. The actual procedure takes aprrox. 15 minutes, however, expect to be at the surgery center 1 1/2 - 2 hours from the time of arrival. Cataracts are a natural clouding with age of the human lens and do not recur after surgery. There are additional procedures that may be necessary including clearing of the posterior capsule with a laser months to years after the initial procedure (takes about 5 minutes and... more

Jay Bansal, MD
San Francisco Ophthalmologist

www.laservue.com

Cataract at age 70

It is pretty much assured that if we live long enough we will all get a cataract, so age 70 is right on track. Essentially, a cataract is the natural aging of the human lens. This aging process creates a gradual yellowing, then browning of the lens that reduces quality of vision over a period of years. The surgical process is quite routine now and very different from anything your grandmother had. It is an outpatient procedure taking about 10-15 minutes, although you are at the facility... more

Anthony J. Kameen, MD
Baltimore Ophthalmologist

www.kameen.com

Everyone Gets a Cataract

Cataract surgery usually lasts 15-30 minutes. As long as there are no other problems with your eyes, extended follow-up is minimal The cataract itself, is a continuously growing lens, which is removed during surgery and replaced with an implant. It does not return, but about 20% of the time scar tissue can grow over the back of the lens implant, requiring an in-office laser procedure. After surgery you will see your ophthalmologist and need to be on drops for about... more

Michelle Crosby, MD, PhD
Encinitas Ophthalmologist

The most common surgery performed in the world

The actual surgery portion of cataract surgery usually lasts only about 15 minutes, but you'll have to show up around an hour ahead to allow dilation drops to work. The surgery should last forever. The most common side effect, posterior capsule opacification, is scar tissue forming behind the lens implant. This "after-cataract" is typically easily treated with a laser. Notice, however, that the cataract itself is not removed with a laser, but rather... more

Benjamin Ticho, MD
Chicago Ophthalmologist

And now we are using lasers to help remove cataracts.

Cataract surgery is safer and more effective than ever before. The success rate is extremely high. The equipment used to remove cataracts has steadily improved over the years. In fact, I had the opportunity to be the second surgeon in the US to remove cataracts using a femtosecond laser. I'm not prepared to say that this new technology is superior as of yet, but we are gathering data and if it truly is safer and more effective than the excellent methods we have currently, laser... more

Steven Dell, MD
Austin Ophthalmologist

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