For certain kinds of cataracts in people who don't have glaucoma, medications that keep the pupil dilated may help. Wearing sunglasses in bright light and using lamps that provide reflected lighting rather than direct lighting decrease glare and aid vision. Cataract surgery, which can be performed on a person of any age, usually doesn't require general anesthesia or an overnight hospital stay. Without a lens implant, people usually need a contact lens. If they can't wear a contact lens, they can try eyeglasses, which are very thick and tend to distort vision.
Cataract surgery is common and usually safe.
Rarely, after the operation, a person may develop an infection or a hemorrhage in the eye, which can lead to a serious loss of vision. Older people in particular should make arrangements in advance to get extra help at home for a few days after surgery. For a few weeks after surgery, eyedrops or ointment is used to prevent infection, reduce inflammation, and promote healing. To protect the eye from injury, the person wears glasses or a metal shield until healing is complete, usually a few weeks. The person visits the doctor the day after surgery and then typically every week or two for 6 weeks.