I Have Cataracts! Do I Need Surgery?

Dear America’s Best,

I just found out that the blurry spots in my eyes are actually cataracts. I’ve heard of many people undergoing cataract surgery, but I’m not ready to do that at this time. Will the doctor want me to have surgery immediately, or is it safe to wait?

Thank you,
Larry in Georgia

Dear Larry,

Though I’m sorry to hear about your cataracts. I hope you’ll take comfort in knowing that they are fairly common and that cataract surgery is a much safer and easier procedure than it used to be.

Your optometrist or ophthalmologist will usually recommend cataract surgery when the cataract starts to interfere with your vision and daily activities. This does not mean just causing blurred vision. If your cataract is slightly affecting your vision, it’s possible to just get a new prescription that accommodates for the cataract in that eye.

If the cataract is blurring your vision to a point where it’s difficult to see around it, it’s probably time to talk seriously about surgery. If you’re having trouble driving, reading or doing close-up work, these are also signs that surgery is most likely necessary.

There’s no firm answer to your question, and your local America’s Best optometrist will have the best advice on when to proceed with the surgical procedure. Years ago, doctors even required that the cataract become “ripe” (meaning fully developed) before they could remove it and replace the lens. Now an ophthalmologist can remove your cataract at earlier stages of development or whenever it becomes an annoyance. There is one exception: if the cataract is causing inflammation, increasing your ocular pressure, or contributing to an already diagnosed case of glaucoma, you’ll want to get it removed sooner rather than later.

If you happen to have two cataracts, one in each eye, don’t worry. You will only get one removed at a time. Your doctor will make sure the first eye has healed before he attempts to fix the other.

Since you know you are dealing with cataracts, my best recommendation is to talk to your America’s Best optometrist about how advanced the cataracts are and how they are impacting your daily life. Your optometrist will recommend how to proceed and will help you monitor them should you decide to delay surgery.

 – Dr. John Bankowski

John Bankowski, O.D.

Dr. John Bankowski is the clinical director for National Vision, Inc. in Duluth, GA (parent company of America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses). He received his Doctor of Optometry degree at the Pennsylvania College of Optometry and became a supervising doctor in the Washington D.C. area. After 10 years in this position, he assumed the position of clinical director for National Vision.

In addition to his duties as the clinical director, he holds 20 active licenses and is the president of 6 Doctor Exchanges, offering doctor support to America’s Best Contacts & Eyeglasses and other National Vision entities throughout the country.

He enjoys traveling to exotic locations throughout the world and is an avid scuba diver and skier. He currently resides in Washington D.C.