the symptoms of early cataracts may be improved with new eyeglasses brighter lighting anti-glare sunglasses or magnifying lenses. if these measures do not help surgery is the only effective treatment. surgery involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial lens. a cataract needs to be removed only when vision loss interferes with your everyday activities such as driving reading or watching tv. you and your eye care professional can make this decision together. once you understand the benefits and risks of surgery you can make an informed decision about whether cataract surgery is right for you. in most cases delaying cataract surgery will not cause long-term damage to your eye or make the surgery more difficult. you do not have to rush into surgery. sometimes a cataract should be removed even if it does not cause problems with your vision. for example a cataract should be removed if it prevents examination or treatment of another eye problem such as age-related macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy. if your eye care professional finds a cataract you may not need cataract surgery for several years. in fact you might never need cataract surgery. by having your vision tested regularly you and your eye care professional can discuss if and when you might need treatment. if you choose surgery your eye care professional may refer you to a specialist to remove the cataract. if you have cataracts in both eyes that require surgery the surgery will be performed on each eye at separate times usually four to eight weeks apart. many people who need cataract surgery also have other eye conditions such as age-related macular degeneration or glaucoma. if you have other eye conditions in addition to a cataract talk with your doctor. learn about the risks benefits alternatives and expected results of cataract surgery. what are the different types of cataract surgery? there are two types of cataract surgery. your doctor can explain the differences and help determine which is better for you: phacoemulsification or phaco. a small incision is made on the side of the cornea the clear dome-shaped surface that covers the front of the eye. your doctor inserts a tiny probe into the eye. this device emits ultrasound waves that soften and break up the lens so that it can be removed by suction. most cataract surgery today is done by phacoemulsification also called "small incision cataract surgery. " extracapsular surgery. your doctor makes a longer incision on the side of the cornea and removes the cloudy core of the lens in one piece. the rest of the lens is removed by suction. after the natural lens has been removed it often is replaced by an artificial lens called an intraocular lens (iol). an iol is a clear plastic lens that requires no care and becomes a permanent part of your eye. light is focused clearly by the iol onto the retina improving your vision. you will not feel or see the new lens. some people cannot have an iol. they may have another eye disease or have problems during surgery. for these patients a soft contact lens or glasses that provide high magnification may be suggested.
how is a cataract treated?