If you decide on surgery, your eye care professional may refer you to another specialist to remove the cataract. If you have cataracts in both eyes, the surgeon will not remove them both at the same time. You will need to have each done separately. Sometimes, a cataract should be removed even if it doesn't bother you. For example, if it prevents examination or treatment of another eye problem such as age-related macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy, a cataract should be treated.
Cataract removal is one of the most common operations performed in the U.S. today.
It is also one of the safest and most effective. More than 90 percent of people who have cataract surgery have better vision afterward. However, even with the best results, your vision may not be as good as before the cataract. The lens is enclosed in a capsule, an outer covering that holds it in place. Your doctor opens the front of the capsule and removes the lens, leaving the back of the capsule in place.