While cataract surgery used to require a hospital stay, now most cataract operations are done on an outpatient basis and recovery is relatively quick. While cataracts usually develop as part of the aging process, they also can come from eye injuries, certain diseases, medications or could be genetically inherited. A cataract may need no treatment at all if the vision is only a little blurry and if it does not interfere with your normal daily living activities. There are no medications, such as eye drops, that will cause cataracts to disappear once they have formed. Surgery in which the natural lens is removed and replaced by an artificial lens is the only current treatment.
Cataract surgery is almost always an elective procedure.
Proper post-operative care is an important part of the process. Before surgery, make sure you know who will be providing medical care to you after the operation. However, if other arrangements are made, be sure that the doctor following you post-operatively is properly qualified and licensed by the state to provide surgical medical care. While the vast majority of cataract surgeries improve vision, there are no guarantees. A small number of patients may have some problems and it is possible other eye conditions could affect the final result.