If you have cataracts, when is the right time to have surgery?

Many patients choose the right time for cataract surgery based on how much their vision has decreased and whether the cataract is mature or not. In fact, if cataracts affect visual quality, such as unclear vision and inconvenience in work and life, cataract surgery can be considered. Doctors usually help patients choose the right time for surgery based on three indicators: vision, work and life status, and degree of cataract opacity .

01. Vision Standards

Cataract is a visual impairment disease caused by lens opacity. The lens is an important optical component in the human eye and is transparent under normal circumstances. Due to various reasons, the lens protein denatures and becomes opaque, causing patients to experience varying degrees of vision loss, which is called cataract.

According to the guidelines of the Asia-Pacific Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgeons: When the patient's corrected visual acuity (i.e. visual acuity with glasses) is equal to or less than 0.5 due to cataracts, surgery can be considered.

02. Work and Life

Even if the vision of a person with cataracts is only 0.6 or 0.7, if it affects normal work (such as studying, using a computer, driving at night, doing delicate work, etc.) and driving at night, it is recommended that the patient undergo surgery as soon as possible.

03. The degree of lens opacity

If the cataract is just in the pupil area and causes visual disturbance to the patient, such as difficulty seeing clearly under sunlight during the day, then surgery is recommended as soon as possible. How much vision affects your life depends on different people's judgment. Don't evaluate yourself by other people's standards.

Dean Cao Xiangrong of Tianjin University Aier Eye Hospital said that it is a misunderstanding to "wait until the cataract matures before surgery". Over-mature cataracts not only affect the quality of life, but also increase the risk of surgery. At present, cataract surgery is a very mature surgery in China, and it has entered the trend of refractive cataract surgery from the previous era of sight restoration surgery. Advanced treatment equipment and continuously improved surgical techniques can provide patients with high-quality visual quality to meet the needs of daily activities.