According to recent research papers, cataract surgery has more benefits than we previously thought. Not only does the surgery make patients’ lives better with clearer vision, but it may also make those lives longer, too! Read on as the team at Bochner Eye Institute explains what you should know about this research and what it could mean for you or a loved one.
Clearer Vision Correlates with a Longer Life Expectancy
The most recent and compelling research that looked at life expectancy and cataract surgery was published last October in the Journal of the American Medical Association Ophthalmology. A team from the medical school at the University of California, Los Angeles looked at 20 years of data on more than 74,000 women age 65 or over, all of whom had cataracts. There was a 60 percent lower risk of death among the women who had their cataracts removed, even though those women were sicker in comparison to the women that didn’t have their cataracts treated.
Why Do People Live Longer after Cataract Surgery?
There are many physical and mental benefits to improving vision with cataract surgery. Here are some possible explanations for why people may live longer when they can see better:
- With clearer vision after cataract surgery, patients can see their medications more clearly, making it more likely that they take the proper pills and dosage as directed by their doctors.
- With clearer vision, patients can exercise and move around more easily. Regular exercise and physical activity is great for overall health and wellness.
- Cataract surgery specifically improves a patient’s contrast vision, which can reduce the risk of an accidental fall or a car crash.
- Having cataracts can be debilitating and depressing because it impairs the ability to enjoy simple things (e.g., watching television, reading, sewing). By restoring clearer vision, cataract surgery makes it possible for a person to re-engage in the habits and hobbies that make them happy.
Modern advances in cataract surgery technology mean that the surgery is quicker and better tolerated than ever. Cataract surgeons can remove cataracts through tiny incisions, sometimes using local anesthesia. Recovery is very rapid and the results appear quickly.
Contact Bochner Eye Institute
If you or a loved one is affected by cataracts, the team at Bochner Eye Institute welcomes you to schedule an informational consultation to discuss treatment. Please call 416-960-2020 or email us today to book your appointment with our cataract surgeons.