A colleague of mine recently shared this article that I have linked below:
Cataract Surgery May Prolong Your Life (New York Times)
As a cataract surgeon, I am thrilled to have the regular opportunity to improve the quality of patients’ lives through this outpatient procedure. This article points to research that suggests that cataract surgery may also increase the quantity of patients’ lives as well. Per the article, a person with sharper vision may be prone to exercise more, make less medication errors, or fall less. This can lead to a longer lifespan – and it really does make common sense!
Many people are not aware that cataract is a condition that falls in the normal spectrum of aging. If cataract runs in your family, that’s because cataract runs in everyone’s family! In truth, we all start growing cataract around our 40s or 50s. A person may live with cataract for decades, however, until it becomes significant to the vision. In my practice, I’ve operated on folks in their 30s and their 90s – and everywhere in between! Certain medical conditions or environmental factors may affect the speed that a cataract worsens.
Every surgery has its pros and cons, of course. A patient and his or her doctor should discuss the appropriate timing of an elective cataract surgery. The first step is developing a relationship with an ophthalmologist who you trust to look out for your visual well-being!