The symptoms of early cataract may be improved with new eyeglasses, brighter lighting, anti-glare sunglasses, or magnifying lenses. If these measures do not help, surgery is the only effective treatment. Surgery involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial lens.

A cataract needs to be removed only when vision loss interferes with your everyday activities, such as driving, reading, or watching TV. Once you understand the benefits and risks of surgery, you can make an informed decision about whether cataract surgery is right for you. In most cases, delaying cataract surgery will not cause long-term damage to your eye or make the surgery more difficult.

Sometimes a cataract should be removed even if it does not cause problems with your vision. For example, a cataract should be removed if it prevents examination or treatment of another eye problem, such as age-related macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy.

If you have cataracts in both eyes that require surgery, the surgery will be performed on each eye at separate times, usually several weeks apart.  Great advances have been made in cataract surgery. Millions of people undergo this vision-improving procedure every year. And, they experience excellent results.

For patients, it's a simple operation. A tiny incision is made in the eye. Through this incision, the surgeon inserts an instrument, about the size of a pen tip.

Once the lens has been removed, the next step is to replace it. An implant which is an artificial lens will do the work of your own lens.  This artificial lens is referred to as an intraocular lens or IOL.

Today, patients are becoming more involved with the selection of an IOL to meet there needs.  Most choose a conventional single focus lens.   This offers excellent vision and does not involve any additional cost.   If you are motivated to become less dependent on glasses, are willing to pay for additional care and services, options are available to correct astigmatism and presbyopia (the need for reading glasses).

Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure. You'll spend just a few hours at the site. Because your eyes will be treated with anesthetic, you should feel little to no discomfort.

After the surgery, you'll be given a short time to rest. Then, the very same day, you can go home.  Drops will be prescribed to guard against infection and help your eyes heal.  For a few days, you may need to wear a clear shield, especially at night, to prevent you from rubbing your eye.