Prognosis of Cataracts

Around 20 million Americans over the age of 40 have experienced at least one cataract, according to a report from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The overall prognosis for cataracts is very good, as they are easily removed with surgery; but many patients develop another secondary cataract later in life.

Identification

• A cataract is a gradual clouding of the eye lens that causes a decline in the sharpness and color perception of your vision.

Surgery

• To remove cataracts, doctors utilize a surgical procedure to remove the damaged lens and replace it with a new, synthetic lens. The surgery is routine and usually is performed on an outpatient basis.

Risks of Surgery

• After surgery, your vision may remain cloudy for up to three months. More serious complications of cataract surgery include eye infections and retinal detachment, but these effects occur in only 1 percent of patients, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Secondary Cataracts

• Around 30 percent of patients who undergo cataract surgery develop a secondary cataract or posterior capsular opacification, according to the University of Maryland Medical Center. This occurs when the replacement lens becomes cloudy in a way similar to the first cataract.

Treatment

• For secondary cataracts, doctors typically employ a laser treatment known as YAG capsulotomy. With YAG, the risks are the same as traditional cataract surgery, but occur in 2 percent of patients rather than 1 percent, reports the University of Maryland Medical Center.

Considerations

• Without surgical removal, cataracts will continually worsen and eventually result in blindness. In fact, untreated cataracts are the leading cause of blindness throughout the world, the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention reports.