Can you be too old for cataract surgery?
In a short answer, no!
A cataract is an ageing of the natural lens in the eye causing blurred vision. The average age of someone who undergoes cataract surgery is approximately 75 years old. However, there is no upper age limit for someone to undergo cataract surgery.
The important point is to consider having cataract surgery when you start to have problems with your vision which are affecting your daily activities such as driving, reading, watching television, hobbies etc. At that point, an experienced Ophthalmologist can assess your eye to confirm that it is the cataract causing your problems and advise on surgery. Also, if you have other medical problems or mobility issues then these can also be assessed so that you are in the safest and most comfortable position whilst undergoing the operation.
If a cataract becomes ‘overly ripe’ then this can be associated with a higher complication rate during the surgery as sometimes the structures that support the lens are more fragile, so it’s best not to leave your cataract until you end up in that situation.