I once had a patient who was blind from cataracts in both eyes. Her vision had gradually deteriorated to the point where she could no longer recognize faces. She was told that she’d had cataracts but was too afraid of surgery to going through with it. Slowly over the years, she lost her ability to function. When I saw her, she was led in by her daughter. Fifteen years had passed since it had been recommended to her that she have her cataracts removed. For some reason, she finally decided to take the risk and allowed me to remove one of her cataracts. The procedure was uneventful, although her cataracts were very hardened. When I saw her the next day after surgery, she told me that she saw her daughter’s face for the time in many years. Her daughter reported that on the ride home from the hospital, her mother was speechless. She was seeing the world again and was stunned at what she was again able to see.
Cataracts typically progress very slowly. Because of this, it is common that a person gradually forgets how bright and colorful the world really is. They also gradually may start to decrease their functioning, such as quitting night driving, or decreasing the time they spend reading because of eyestrain, or being outdoors because of glare. Fear of surgery can cause a person to slowly accept their decreased ability to function at the level they were accustomed to.
If you are experiencing visual difficulties that are causing you to scale back on the activities that you like to engage in, you would benefit from having a consultation to determine if you have cataracts or any other treatable condition. A clear discussion of the true risks and benefits of treatment will undoubtedly ease your mind. If you are truly functioning at the level that you are used to, then certainly no intervention is warranted. However, if you are capable of regaining the vision that you once had, don’t let fear of the unknown gradually rob you of some of the simple pleasures in life.
For more information, please call 661-259-3937.