Cataracts, the filmy or foggy material that impacts vision due to disease or age, can be frustrating to deal with. Luckily, they are treatable, and many people fully recover from cataract surgery.

If you or a loved one has recently been diagnosed with cataracts, this article shares the first steps to take after a cataract diagnosis. We address the following questions about cataract care:

• How do I find a specialist who helps with cataracts?
• How are cataracts treated? 
• What cataract treatment options are available if I don’t want to have surgery?
• How is a cataract operation done?
• What should I expect during cataract surgery recovery?
• How likely is it that more cataracts will develop after I have cataract surgery?
• What technology is available to help with the day-to-day challenges of cataracts?
• Where can I get more information about cataracts and low vision?

How do I find a specialist who helps with cataracts?

An eye specialist called an ophthalmologist treats cataracts, the buildup of protein material on the eye’s lens that can make vision cloudy, blurry, or faded. To learn more about how cataracts form, see The 7 Most Important Things to Know About Cataracts.

Most people receive an initial cataract diagnosis from their regular eye doctor, called an optometrist. From there, the optometrist may recommend a local ophthalmologist to handle treatment. Many vision centers, insurance companies, and hospital centers keep databases of trusted eye surgeons.

If you’re not sure how to find an ophthalmologist, Ability Central offers a national database of nonprofits that support people with cataracts and other low vision concerns. Each provider lists their location, specialties, and target demographic. 

How are cataracts treated?

Cataract treatment depends on the type of cataract, its location, and how much it affects your vision. 

The most common treatment for cataracts is cataract surgery, a quick outpatient procedure during which a doctor removes the affected lens and replaces it with an artificial one. However, not all cataracts require immediate surgery. If you have an early-stage cataract that isn’t causing any changes to your vision, for example, your doctor may prefer to monitor it rather than immediately scheduling removal.

The exact surgical procedure depends on the type, location, size, and impact of the cataract. To learn more about the different types of cataracts, see Do I Have Cataracts? Cloudy Vision, Faded Colors, and Other Symptoms of Cataracts.

What cataract treatment options are available if I don’t want to have surgery?

If the effects of cataracts are mild, surgery may not be immediately necessary. Instead, lifestyle changes and changes within the home may help with the vision changes associated with cataracts. 

Many people with mild cataract symptoms benefit from: 

• Wearing sunglasses, which can cut down glare and reduce light sensitivity.
• Limiting night driving.
• Changing computer screens to different color configurations.
• Clip-on magnifiers or customized reading glasses to help with reading smaller print.
• Changing curtains and lighting within the home to eliminate glare as needed.

No matter how developed a cataract is, keep up regular appointments with your optometrist or ophthalmologist to monitor your vision. If vision worsens, surgery may be necessary, and your doctor can help you navigate the benefits and risks.

How is a cataract operation done?

Of all the surgical procedures in medicine, cataract surgery is the most common. A cataract operation is usually a painless outpatient surgery the eye doctor performs in less than an hour. There are two main methods for cataract surgery: 

• Phacoemulsification, during which a surgeon uses a tiny probe to break up the cataract with ultrasound waves and remove the fragments.
• Extracapsular cataract extraction, a less common procedure that involves removing the damaged lens in one piece. 

During cataract surgery, an eye surgeon dilates the pupil with eye drops and numbs the area. Some people are given a mild sedative to help them relax. Then, the surgeon uses a small probe to remove the cloudy lens in pieces or in full. In most cases, doctors then insert an artificial version called an intraocular lens (IOL). 

IOLs, made of silicone, plastic, or acrylic, are designed to treat a variety of symptoms. Depending on the type of IOL you choose with your doctor, an artificial lens might:

• Block harmful UV light.
• Help someone see far away or close up.
• Adapt to the eye’s natural movements and help with both near and far vision. 
• Have different areas that improve different kinds of vision, similar to progressive or bifocal glasses lenses. 
• Correct astigmatism. 

After insertion, the surgeon closes the incision site. Some larger IOLs require additional stitches after surgery, but most do not. 

Although cataract surgery is so common, the costs can be unpredictable as many insurance companies consider cataract surgery to be an elective procedure. To understand the costs associated with cataract surgery, see Cataracts: Costs, Care, and Long-term Challenges.

What are the risks of cataract surgery? 

Like any surgical procedure, cataract surgery carries some risks. According to the Mayo Clinic, however, cataract surgery side effects are rare, and most are easily treated. 

These side effects may include: 

• Eyelid drooping or swelling.
• Additional vision changes.
• Bleeding or infection around the surgical site.
• Glaucoma.
• The retina moving out of place, called detachment.
• The artificial lens moving out of place. 
• Secondary cataracts.

If you’re concerned about the side effects of cataract surgery, be sure to discuss the pros and cons with your doctor. 

What should I expect during cataract surgery recovery?

You will not be able to drive immediately after the surgery. Your vision may be blurry, and your eyes may be light-sensitive for a few days following surgery. Dryness, itching, burning, and red eyes are also common, but these go away with time and proper aftercare.

 After-surgery care for cataracts may include:

• Eye drops.
• Wearing a face shield or glasses to protect your eye while it heals.
• Limited physical activity until the eye doctor approves more strenuous exercise.

How likely is it that more cataracts will develop after I have cataract surgery?

An eye with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) cannot grow a cataract, but the lens capsule may become cloudy months or years after surgery. This is called a posterior capsular opacification, or secondary cataract, and affects up to 20% of people who have cataract surgery within 3 to 5 years of their initial procedure. 

Secondary cataracts are treatable through a painless procedure similar to initial cataract surgery. 

Learn more about secondary cataracts and their treatment options in Cataracts: Costs, Care, and Long-term Challenges.

Talk to your eye doctor if you notice changes in your vision following cataract surgery.

What technology is available to help with the day-to-day challenges of cataracts?

Cell phones are vital communication tools. They open a world of connection and knowledge in a simple handheld device that can always be within reach. If you are looking for a cell phone with features that can help a person with cataracts or low vision, look for the following:

• Raised bumps on separate buttons can help the person navigate the keypad.
• Availability of speech commands. 
• Screen magnifier that makes the text and buttons appear bigger.
• Color settings to make it easier to read the screen.

To find all the latest tech on a phone designed for the visual needs of someone with cataracts, see Ability Central’s device finder tool.

Where can I get more information about cataracts and low vision?

To learn more about cataracts, see:

• The 7 Most Important Things to Know About Cataracts
• Do I Have Cataracts? Cloudy Vision, Faded Colors, and Other Symptoms of Cataracts
• Cataracts: Costs, Care, and Long-term Challenges

See Ability Central’s Low Vision resource library for information about other vision-related concerns.