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Should I Go For Cataract Surgery Or Can I Wait Since Its In Moderate Stage?

Posted on Fri, 2 Aug 2024

Question: Hi. I am 73 year old male in good health with no blood pressure or diabetes. I have high triglycerides but they come below 150 due to 4 gm of omega 3 I take daily. I just had eye exam and my doctor says my cataracts are now moderate vs mild before. With glasses also, I reach only 20/25 vision.
1) Should I go for cataract surgery or can I wait. Right now I have no issue driving in day or night.
2)What are the options for cataract surgery types.
3)What are the risks for each surgery.
4)What type will you recommend.
5) Are there some tests I can do to better evaluate my eyes.
Thanks.

Answered by Dr. Harshita (15 hours later)

Brief Answer:
If you have no problems with your vision you may wait

Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for your question.

If you have no problems with your vision you may wait as its never an emergency. Phaco is the best and most prevalent done now . Risk is there in every surgery but in cataract it is less but not totally zero. I would recommend only phaco surgery. You can get your retina checked it helps in knowing how much vision we can regain after surgery.

Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. Vaishalee Punj

Follow up: Dr. Harshita (7 hours later)

Thank you for your response.
You mentioned Phaco surgery. Is that laser surgery. I read that laser needs less energy than ultrasound, is more accurate and has higher chance of vision with no glasses. Please explain in detail. Thank you.

Follow up: Dr. Harshita (1 minute later)

Also how can I evaluate and reduce risk of retinal detachment.

Answered by Dr. Harshita (3 days later)

Brief Answer:
laser is used for intial steps surgery is by phaco only

Detailed Answer:
Hello thanks for the follow up . Laser or femtolaser to be precise is used only for intial incision and first few steps . Ultimately phaco is used for the catarct and then lens is implanted . Requirement of glasses depends more upon your previous error and lens implanted . Multifocal lenses and extended depth of focus lenses will help in less residual need of spectacles but not hundred percent guaranteed . Regards

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. LAKSHMI

Follow up: Dr. Harshita (6 hours later)

Thanks for your response. I am confused. When I asked my doctor, he said he does ultrasound surgery. What will that mean. Please explain.

Answered by Dr. Harshita (2 days later)

Brief Answer:
That means phaco surgery only

Detailed Answer:
Hey thanks for the follow up question. ultasound means phaco surgery . It is the advance form of surgery . Regards.

Above answer was peer-reviewed by : Dr. LAKSHMI