What Happens if You Do Not Get Cataracts Removed?

My eye doctor at a yearly checkup just told me I have the beginnings of cataracts. I have noticed my vision blurring a bit, and my night vision has been degrading. I hate to admit it, but I’m terrified of spending time in the hospital. What happens if I choose to just ignore my cataracts?

Cataracts left untreated can eventually lead to total vision loss. Luckily, cataract removal surgery is routine and common. The procedure takes about 30 minutes and post-surgical pain and discomfort is minimal. Here are some facts on your condition:

• Cataracts are changes in clarity of the natural lens inside the eye that gradually degrade visual quality. The natural lens sits behind the colored part of the eye (iris) in the area of the pupil, and cannot be directly seen with the naked eye unless it becomes extremely cloudy.
• The lens plays a crucial role in focusing unimpeded light on the retina at the back of the eye. The retina transforms light to a neurologic signal that the brain interprets as vision.
• Significant cataracts block and distort light passing through the lens, causing visual symptoms and complaints.
• Cataract development is usually a gradual process of normal aging, but can occasionally occur rapidly.
• Many people are in fact unaware that they have cataracts because the changes in their vision have been so gradual. Cataracts commonly affect both eyes, but it is not uncommon for cataracts in one eye to advance more rapidly. Cataracts are very common.
• Experts have estimated that visual disability associated with cataracts accounts for over 8 million physician office visits a year in the United States. This number will likely continue to increase as the proportion of people over the age of 60 rises.
• When people develop cataracts, they begin to have difficulty doing activities they need to do for daily living or for enjoyment. Some of the most common complaints include difficulty driving at night, reading, participating in sports such as golfing, or traveling to unfamiliar areas.

For more information, read our full medical article on cataracts