Risks
In the past surgeons waited for a cataract to mature before it was removed and many
patients still expect this to be the case. However, these days it may be considered
better to remove it at an earlier stage rather than wait.
We all have some degree
of cataract, and as we get older they start to cause problems. As with everything,
there are no hard and fast rules about operating and the decision should be made
between the patient and the surgeon. I will ask how a patient is affected by the
condition and must then measure this against any possible risk involved in surgery.
Most patients feel that if they are able to read, watch television and recognise
people across the road, they may have more to lose than to gain from an operation
and prefer to defer a decision until a later date. Sometimes quite small changes,
such as wearing a wide brimmed hat and dark glasses to overcome the glare and dazzle
associated with early cataract, can be enough to delay any decision. Conversely,
if the patient is a driver, he/she must conform to legal requirements if they wish
to continue to drive. These stipulate that a driver must be able to read a number-
undergo surgery.
Every
operation carries some degree of risk and in the case of cataract surgery this is
2-