This week my ophthalmologist told me that I have a cataract in my left eye, and she asked me point-blank whether I wanted to be scheduled for surgery ASAP. I've deferred on the surgery for a year. I'm fifty years old. What am I in for, short-term and long-term? I've worn glasses since third grade, so I have worn eyeglasses for over 40 years. Both eyes are myopic. Vision in my left eye has been significantly worse than my right eye for decades. I have not been diagnosed with cataracts previously, but I have also mostly been seen by optometrists, not ophthalmologists.
My immediate options as laid out by the ophthalmologist are either surgery now and then a new eyeglass prescription, or re-discuss surgery next year and visit an orthoptist now to measure prism correction for my current pending eyeglass prescription. She expected an answer on the spot so I chose the orthoptist. A follow-up on the cataract's progress will be done as part of my vision check next year February.
As explained to me, cataract surgery would be performed on both eyes even though only the left has a cataract. The surgery would be in two sessions, one session for each eye, two weeks apart. Aside from her verbal information I've been given no materials, guidance or recommendations. In hindsight I realize that I should have at least requested the time to seek a second opinion, and I plan to ask the orthoptist for advice, but the orthoptist's appointment is still two months away.
So... I have nothing more to go on, and this has left me emotionally flailing and fearing the worst if I start researching this myself. Is there good, non-woo, non-scaremongering, laypeople's information resources on cataracts? Setting aside how the information was delivered, does what the ophthalmologist said sound credible? I'm on the young side for developing cataracts, so are there long-term consequences of getting surgery done at this time in my life?
My immediate options as laid out by the ophthalmologist are either surgery now and then a new eyeglass prescription, or re-discuss surgery next year and visit an orthoptist now to measure prism correction for my current pending eyeglass prescription. She expected an answer on the spot so I chose the orthoptist. A follow-up on the cataract's progress will be done as part of my vision check next year February.
As explained to me, cataract surgery would be performed on both eyes even though only the left has a cataract. The surgery would be in two sessions, one session for each eye, two weeks apart. Aside from her verbal information I've been given no materials, guidance or recommendations. In hindsight I realize that I should have at least requested the time to seek a second opinion, and I plan to ask the orthoptist for advice, but the orthoptist's appointment is still two months away.
So... I have nothing more to go on, and this has left me emotionally flailing and fearing the worst if I start researching this myself. Is there good, non-woo, non-scaremongering, laypeople's information resources on cataracts? Setting aside how the information was delivered, does what the ophthalmologist said sound credible? I'm on the young side for developing cataracts, so are there long-term consequences of getting surgery done at this time in my life?
