Cataracts are not very fun to live with. As a person ages the lens of their eye becomes a little hardened and when it goes cloudy, eye sight is affected. It is one of the most common eye conditions in the over 55 age group. There is a high chance of anyone in their 70's developing this condition, more so if there is a family history of it or diabetes in the family. The good news however is that there is treatment available. By having the lens of the eye replaced altogether you can be rid of cataracts and poor eye sight and be safe in the knowledge that the cataracts won't come back. Eye sight can be instantly restored with laser eye surgery and it has so far helped millions around the world. This article provides all the information you need about before and after having cataract surgery.

Although glasses or contacts can be worn to help correct minor vision problems caused by cataracts, the cloudy area is likely to continue growing. Eventually blurred vision, double vision and poor eyesight can mean reading becomes difficult or seeing things in the distance is not possible. There are some measures and treatments that can be effective before resorting to surgery however. There are eye drops available that can also slow down the development of cataracts and there are even special exercises a person can do to prevent the condition from worsening. If this all fails to control the condition however then surgery offers an effective and permanent solution.

Cataract surgery is safe, quick and totally painless. Recovery does not take long either. The surgery is performed with the patient under a local anesthetic so you can't feel a thing. It takes under half and hour and you can go home the same day. There may be a brief period spent in the hospital after surgery where you wait for the anesthetic to wear off, but otherwise you are free to go. The surgeon will want to carry out a few checks in the days and weeks following the surgery to ensure everything is healing nicely. Otherwise patients can go back to work and continue with their lives after a few days.

During the procedure a small incision is made on the surface of the eye and ultrasound technology is used to break up and then remove the cloudy lens. A new lens is then fitted and the flap on the front of the eye replaced. Another benefit of cataract surgery is that the lens can be customised to suit the individual's needs. In other words there can be a secondary benefit to the surgery. Someone with shortsightedness can have a lens fitted that corrects this. The same can be done for someone suffering from longsightedness.

It is very important that you have regular check ups with your eye doctor so that any problems such as cataracts can be caught early. If you think you may be suffering from this condition or someone in your family is then you should seek medical attention and find out what options are available. With prices now lower than they have ever been, the cost of cataract surgery is affordable and available to all.

Cataract operations are very quick and easy to carry out. There is no need to worry about complications or infections either as the procedure carries very few risks. You will be given antibiotics following the surgery in the form of eye drops to reduce any chance of an infection developing. Vision correction surgery is an important part of optometry today and it has helped many people have their sight restored. A refractive lens exchange as described above is quick and effective and can be organised and carried out in just a few weeks.