Cataract surgery is typically a straightforward, uncomplicated procedure. Because cataracts are considered a normal part of aging and our expected lifespans are increasing with advances in medicine, the number of cataract surgeries performed every year in the US is approaching the 4 million mark. That’s a lot of cataract extractions.

A cataract is an opacity in the lens of the eye. Usually this lens is clear and transparent so that light can easily pass through to reach the back of the eye to form vision. Various factors can underlie the development of a cataract – age is the main one, but other factors such as environment, lifestyle choices, certain medications, systemic diseases, and trauma, can also contribute to the formation of a cataract in the eye.
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The mention of cataracts can cause a bit of a heart palpitation for some people, particularly older ones who have family members who supposedly went blind from the condition. However, cataracts are as expected as wrinkles and white hairs – they are a normal part of aging. Over 24 million Americans aged over 40 have some degree of cataract; in the state of California over 16% of the population have a cataract in one or both eyes, which means more than 6 million Californians are walking around with a cataract, probably in addition to a few wrinkles and white hairs.
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The success rate of cataract surgery in the developed world is typically quoted as 98% or higher. However, as with any procedure performed on the complex human body, things can go wrong. Approximately 0.5% of patients undergoing cataract surgery experience a severe complication with significant visual impact; in the USA with around 2-3 million surgeries performed every year, this represents up to 15 000 patients with vision loss following what should be a sight-restoring procedure. Although a 98% success rate is pretty good, it’s important not to go into cataract surgery “blind” to the potential complications.
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So, you’ve decided that it’s time to have your cataracts removed. This became clear after you mistook Joan’s roaming pet rabbit for the bowl during your weekly casual game of lawn bowls; unfortunately, due to your cataracts this is currently the only thing that is clear. A brief foray into the world wide web using the search term “cataract surgery” quickly makes evident that while the surgical procedure itself is exceedingly common and relatively straightforward, there are a few decisions to be made – for example, whether you go with FLACS or phaco, and which IOL option is best for you, whatever these words mean!
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Putting a knife to the eye sounds pretty horrific, like some sort of method of “enhanced interrogation.” In fact, the eyeball is such a sensitive, squeamish part of the body that there are even websites listing horror movies with the worst eyeball-involving scenes (Google it!). Ommetaphobia aside, a scalpel in the right hands can provide sight-restoring, quality-of-life-redeeming treatment to an eye affected by cataract.
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In the eye care world, there is a mixed variety of reactions a doctor might encounter from a patient after announcing that he or she has signs of a cataract.

“Cataract? Is it bad? But I’m only 65 years old!”

“Ah yes, cataract. It runs in the family so I knew I was going to get It. All my grandparents and also my parents got cataracts.”

“What’s a cataract? Is that the same as macular degeneration?”

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