Is cataract surgery elective?
Asked by: Magdalen Bogisich | Last update: December 24, 2023Score: 5/5 (40 votes)
Cataracts are an inevitability. If you live long enough, you will have cataracts. But cataract surgery is elective surgery. The determining factor in moving forward with surgery is the patient's perception of his or her own visual limitations due to the developing lens opacity.
Is cataract surgery a medical necessity?
In general, cataract surgery is performed to alleviate compromise of visual function attributable to lens opacity. There are uncommon situations when lens extraction becomes medically necessary for anatomic rather than optical reasons.
At what point is cataract surgery needed?
Your eye doctor will probably suggest cataract surgery if you have vision loss that gets in the way of everyday activities like reading, driving, or watching TV.
Is cataract surgery optional?
Not all cataracts need to be removed. It depends on how much they bother you. Many people get along very well without surgery by wearing contact lenses or glasses. Poor eyesight caused by cataracts happens slowly over time, so you probably don't need to rush into having surgery.
What happens if you don't do cataract surgery?
What happens if cataracts are left untreated? Untreated cataracts will eventually block light from entering the eye and result in a loss of vision. Worldwide, they are the leading cause of blindness.
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Can you have cataracts and never need surgery?
Even though surgery is the only treatment for removing cataracts, this doesn't mean everyone with cataracts requires surgery. Some people with mild cataracts can correct their vision with prescription glasses and contact lenses. They can also manage with brighter lighting, anti-glare sunglasses, and magnifying lenses.
When is it too late to have cataract surgery?
But is there such a thing as having cataract surgery too early or too late? Not exactly. While cataracts can be removed at any stage of development, Medicare and private insurance carriers will only cover the procedure when cataracts have begun to impact a patient's life as described above.
Can insurance deny cataract surgery?
Most health insurance companies, which cover checkups, prescriptions, and other types of surgery, consider cataract surgery to be medically necessary, and they will cover at least part of the procedure. However, the amount of your cataract surgery that is covered can vary.
What is the average age for cataract surgery?
In most people, cataracts start developing around age 60, and the average age for cataract surgery in the United States is 73. However, changes in the lenses of our eyes start to affect us in our 40's.
What is the average length of time for cataract surgery?
How long does it take to do cataract surgery from start to finish? The procedure itself takes about 15 minutes to complete, depending on whether there are any complications. From arriving on the day of your surgery to leaving the hospital, it usually takes around two to three hours.
How long does cataract surgery take for one eye?
The actual procedure itself only takes about 15-25 minutes per eye, though you'll need to schedule two separate appointments if you have cataracts in both eyes. You should also account for pre-surgery and post-surgery, which can add 30-45 minutes to the overall appointment.
Who decides if you need cataract surgery?
If a cataract makes it difficult for you to carry out your normal activities, your doctor may suggest cataract surgery. When a cataract interferes with the treatment of another eye problem, cataract surgery may be recommended.
What makes you a candidate for cataract surgery?
The best candidates for cataract surgery are those who desire better vision and are not willing to settle for blurry vision for the rest of their lives. Moreover, a good candidate for cataract surgery is also in reasonably good health and has no medical condition that could prevent proper wound healing.
Is cataract surgery minor or major?
Major versus Minor Surgery
In minor surgeries, there is no need for the surgeon to open the body cavity, neither breathing assistance nor general anesthesia are typically required, and recovery does not require hospitalization. In all these regards, cataract surgery meets the definition of minor surgery.
Are older cataracts harder to remove?
If you wait too long, your cataracts can become “hyper-mature”, which makes them more difficult to remove, and can cause surgery complications. In general, the best outcomes for cataract surgery take place when surgery is performed soon after vision problems develop.
What part of cataract surgery is not covered by Medicare?
Medicare covers medically necessary cataract surgery with standard intraocular lenses. Medicare won't cover advanced technology lenses or elective surgery primarily to correct vision from nearsightedness or astigmatism, called “refractive lens exchanges.”
Is cataract surgery Painful?
How painful is cataract surgery? Most people feel little or no pain during or after cataract surgery. You'll receive a topical anesthetic (eye drops) to numb your eye during the surgery. Shortly after surgery, your eye may feel gritty or slightly tender, but over-the-counter pain medicine should improve this.
How bad do cataracts have to be for insurance to cover?
Medicare, Medicaid and most private insurance programs deem cataract surgery to be “medically necessary,” assuming the development of the cataract (or cataracts) is such that it interferes with the patient's normal daily activities.
Will I need glasses years after cataract surgery?
In general, after cataract surgery people do not need glasses for distance viewing– this means for activities such as driving, golf or watching TV, you should not need to continue wearing glasses. However, in many circumstances people still may need glasses for reading or near work.
Is it better to have cataract surgery sooner or later?
In some cases, this can cause complications during surgery. Usually, the best results for cataract surgery occur when surgery is performed soon after vision problems develop, whether it is due to age, disease, or injury.
Will my eyes stay the same after cataract surgery?
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.
Who should not do cataract surgery?
However, there are some patients who don't meet the requirements for cataract surgery: Are in poor health or have a serious medical condition. Have advanced macular degeneration. Have a detached retina.
Which eye is chosen first for cataract surgery?
If the patient chooses a monofocal lens, generally the dominant eye is selected to undergo surgery first. This provides the patient with good distance vision and fewer night vision disturbances, given that these patients prefer good distance vision over the ability to read without glasses.
Who is not a candidate for laser cataract surgery?
Because vision can change dramatically during the adolescent years, laser eye surgery is not recommended for anyone under the age of 18. Those who are pregnant or nursing. Hormone fluctuations during pregnancy and nursing can cause changes to a woman's vision and corrective prescription.
How many visits are required for cataract surgery?
You will most likely have three follow-up appointments after your cataract surgery. Your first follow-up appointment is the day after your surgery. We also recommend that you have a driver for this visit. This is not an absolute requirement but is probably safer for you because of possible blurred vision.