No, your vision generally doesn’t deteriorate after cataract surgery unless other problems arise, such as macular degeneration or glaucoma. In cataract surgery, the eye doctor (ophthalmologist) removes the clouded lens from your eye and replaces it with a clear, artificial lens.
Dry eye syndrome is another common finding that can change vision after cataract surgery. Corneal and retinal diseases should also be ruled out as certain corneal conditions can worsen after cataract surgery (like Fuchs’ corneal dystrophy) and some retinal diseases can progress after cataract surgery such as macular degeneration or macular edema.
Does vision fluctuate after cataract surgery?
As the eye heals the eye’s surfacecan get dry or irritated and the vision can fluctuate. However, any significant and persistent decrease of vision after surgery should be immediately reported to your surgeon.
If you do not have any other eye diseases, the vision often remains clear after cataract surgery for the rest of your life. Most age related change in vision is due to the lens of the eye. Cataract surgery replaces the lens inside the eye, so there is not further reason for your vision to deteriorate with time.
While cataracts cannot grow back, there can be circumstances that occur following cataract surgery that can affect or comprise your vision. Multifocal Lens Adjustment Period Multifocal lenses make it possible for you to once again see clearly at multiple distances.
The cornea which is the front surface of the eye can change in astigmatism over time meaning you need a change in glasses to keep the vision clear. Unless you have some other eye illness or pathology like macular degeneration or glaucoma, your vision after cataract surgery should remain every good.
Yes, uncomplicated cataract removal and intraocular lens implantation significantly boosts visual acuity, but some folks experience other changes that were never present before surgery. There is enormous variability. Some people describe halos, ghosting, slight overlapping of images (not double vision) and unexpected flashes of light.
The answer is that corneal and retinal diseases should also be ruled out as certain corneal conditions can worsen after cataract surgery (like Fuchs’ corneal dystrophy) and some retinal diseases can progress after cataract surgery such as macular degeneration or macular edema. An ophthalmologist should be able to determine whether any of these findings are present.
What are the long term effects of cataract surgery?
The weeks after the surgery can result in blurred vision due to uveitis or macular oedema particularly in diabetic and those with darker eyes. In the months and years after the surgery the vision can change due to a condition called posterior capsular opacification which may require a simple laser procedure.
What are the most common questions asked after cataract surgery?
What can I expect after cataract surgery? How long does it take for vision to clear after cataract surgery? In this blog post, I’ll try to answer these and other related questions as best I can.