Should a 98 year old have cataract surgery?

Should a 98 year old have cataract surgery?

By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery. A cataract needs to be removed only when vision loss interferes with everyday activities, such as driving, reading, or watching TV. Sometimes a cataract should be removed even if it does not cause problems with your vision.

Are you ever too old to have cataract surgery?

Regardless, surgeons typically do not recommend that their patients wait until they reach the average age for cataract surgery; they recommend having cataract surgery when the time is right for your eye health and your vision.

What happens if a cataract is left untreated?

Over time, cataracts become worse and start to interfere with vision. Important skills can be affected, such as driving, and loss of vision can affect the overall quality of life in many ways including reading, working, hobbies and sports. If left untreated, cataracts will eventually cause total blindness.

What happens if you delay cataract surgery?

If you wait too long, your cataracts can become “hyper-mature”, which makes them more difficult to remove, and can cause surgery complications. In general, the best outcomes for cataract surgery take place when surgery is performed soon after vision problems develop.

When do you need cataract surgery in your 70s?

It’s just changes in the lenses in your eyes, which have started to yellow with age. If it gets too bad, you may need cataract surgery. About half of people ages 65 through 74 have cataracts; the number rises to more than 70 percent among those 75 or older.

Why do frail people have to have surgery?

The need to have surgery, and the condition that has caused a need for surgery, would often be considered a large insult in a frail person. Although frailty is more common in older people, it’s not exclusive to older people. Most frail people have chronic health problems, and their frailty increases with the number of chronic health conditions.

What kind of surgery does an elderly person need?

Certainly, some specialties perform more geriatric surgeries than others. For example, an orthopedic surgeon specializing in joint replacements would see far more older patients than a plastic surgeon specializing in breast augmentation, but overall, more surgery patients are elderly than not.

What makes a person too old for surgery?

These factors may increase with chronological age, but frailty is the bigger factor for doctors in deciding whether a patient should undergo surgery and anaesthesia. Frailty is a state where a person is vulnerable due to decline in body function. This in turn reduces their ability to cope with acute and every day stressors.

When does an elderly loved one need cataract surgery?

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 elderly parent’s eye care professional finds a cataract, your parent may not need cataract surgery for several years.

What should I expect after my parent has cataract surgery?

Itching and mild discomfort are normal after cataract surgery. Some fluid discharge is also common. The eye may be sensitive to light and touch. If your parent has discomfort, the doctor can suggest treatment. After one or two days, moderate discomfort should disappear.

Is it more common for older people to have surgery?

In fact, 1 in 10 people who have surgery are 65 or older. While being older makes surgery more likely, it can also increase your potential for risks during procedures.