Unfortunately, cataract is not a disease that can be solved without surgery. Surgical intervention is a must for the treatment of the disease. Surgical intervention is essential, but what about the timing? When should cataract surgery be performed? Let’s look for an answer to the most curious question together.
When should we have cataract surgery?
Let’s get to know the disease first. In cataract disease, the lens of the eye, which should be transparent, begins to dull. The dulling of the lens interferes with vision after a while, and in progressive cases, the patient may lose his/her vision until he/she is treated. The most important point to be considered in this disease, which is also popularly defined as a curtain in the eye, is that it is a progressive disease.
This means that early treatment is also important in cataract disease. We will talk about this process, but first let’s give a brief information about the treatment. In the treatment, the dull lens of the eye is removed and replaced with an artificial lens that will perform the same function.
The timing of the operation depends on the joint decision between the patient and the doctor. It is recommended that the treatment is performed before the disease progresses and vision falls below 60-70%.
What happens when we delay the operation?
Let’s say you delay the operation. This does not mean that you will lose your vision forever. Delayed surgical intervention causes the lens to gradually harden and dull.
As we said at the beginning, this disease is progressive. With each passing time, the negative effect on the lens will increase a little more. This will directly affect the surgical operation process.
As the lens hardens, more energy is spent to remove the lens and the doctor performs more operations on the eye. Aside from prolonging the duration of the surgery, the risk of edema formation increases as more procedures are performed, and we see that the healing process is a little longer.
Since the patient’s comfort may be affected, it is recommended that the treatment and surgical intervention be performed before the cataract progresses further.
However, keep this in mind. Even if the treatment is late, cataracts are not unsolvable. No matter how advanced the disease is, removing the lens and replacing it with an artificial lens will restore vision. Of course, let us remind you that the doctor’s examination and interpretation are also very important here.