8 Ways Cataract Surgery Can Improve Your Quality of Life
A cataract can have negative implications on you, your life and your wellbeing. Find out more about the positive after-effects of cataract surgery…
What is a cataract?
A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye. This is a natural ageing process that eventually occurs in all eyes; however, a cataract can also form at a younger age due to other conditions including diabetes.
Cataract surgery
Cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed operations in the world, with an excellent success rate and safety record. It is recommended when vision due to the cataract is negatively impacting your everyday life.
The implications: improving your quality of life
Cataract surgery leads to huge improvements in a patient’s quality of life.
Improved vision
Cataract surgery can improve your vision in many ways, including correcting:
- Cloudy vision
- Faded colours
- Glare, especially when driving at night or in exposure to bright lights
Watching the television
Having improved vision resulting from the surgery can have a number of positive knock-on effects including being able to watch the television with reduced glare. This means you’ll be able to watch your favourite programmes and films without the annoyance of glare from the bright lights of the screen.
Reading ability
Cataracts can also have an adverse effect on your reading ability. From struggling to read your favourite book to being unable to focus your vision on today’s newspaper, this can become upsetting and frustrating.
Cataract surgery can improve your vision by helping to correct cloudy vision, allowing you to see things in focus, which only has positive implications on your reading ability.
Driving ability
Cataracts can also influence your ability to drive, particularly at night due to glare. In some cases, it may mean that you are unable to drive at all due to loss of vision.
Cataract surgery helps you get back on the road, gain your independence back and increases your confidence in your driving ability.
Caring for your grandchildren
Your grandchildren are an important part of your life. But is your cataract making it harder for you to take care of them?
The negative effects of cloudy vision and glare can be corrected through cataract surgery which may improve the ease at which you’re able to look after and interact with your grandchildren.
Improving your golf swing
Good eyesight is crucial to golf. If your cataract has been affecting your golf abilities, you can expect to see a big improvement after you have recovered from cataract surgery.
Find out more about how your eyesight can affect your golf swing.
Reversing the link to depression
Losing your vision has been linked to depressive symptoms as people become restricted with what they can do.
In certain cases, people may lose their independence due to cataract which can have adverse effects, such as no longer being able to drive or struggling to read.
Having cataract surgery means that patients are able to participate in the activities and hobbies they have previously been unable to do and they gain their independence back. This can help improve depressive symptoms if they were present prior to surgery.
Risk of falling
The risk of falling increases amongst older adults and can have huge knock-on effects such as hip fractures and broken bones. Loss of vision caused by a cataract may lead to an increased risk of falling and thus, cataract surgery can help to eliminate this increased risk and keep you safe.
Cataract surgery is a solution with an array of positive outcomes that will improve your quality of life. From gaining your independence back and being able to drive again, to being able to take care of your grandchildren with ease, if you are suffering with a cataract, cataract surgery will help you get back on your feet.
Get in touch…
If you are concerned about your vision, contact us for an informal chat or to book an appointment with Mr Venki Sundaram.