A need for frequent changes in eyeglass prescription. A visible lightening of the pupil. It is not usually necessary to treat cataracts unless they interfere with daily life. The most common forms of cataracts can take up to 15 to 20 years to reach a stage where they seriously impair vision. Then, the patient and the ophthalmologist decide together whether removal is necessary.
Cataract removal involves surgery to remove the clouded lens.
The doctor prescribes medicine along with performing the surgery, but no pill, eyedrop, or ointment alone can prevent or cure cataracts. Similarly, lasers cannot remove cataracts, although doctors sometimes perform laser therapy if the membrane that holds the lens becomes cloudy in the weeks following surgery. Surgery for cataracts is a brief and relatively simple procedure. It usually takes 45 minutes to an hour to complete. In the past, most cataract surgery patients remained in the hospital following the operation.