Sage-Tips

What happens if you only have one cataract removed?

If you have cataract in both eyes but only have surgery in one eye, your eyes won’t be able to work together when you wear cataract glasses after surgery. The glasses lens for your operated eye makes things appear larger while your other eye will view images as they truly are.

Can you have two cataracts done at the same time?

If you have cataracts in both eyes it may be recommended that both eyes are treated on the same day. This procedure is known as immediate sequential bilateral cataract surgery (ISBCS). ISBCS is usually only recommended for people thought to have a low risk of complications.

How long does it take to recover from cataract surgery on one eye?

Although some patients see well just a few days after cataract surgery, full healing can take up to three months. Cataract surgery recovery time tends to be minimal and mild, but there are various factors that can impact the speed of recovery.

Can you drive with cataracts in one eye?

Having vision in just one eye is called monocular vision, and is actually perfectly legal for driving.

Can you get cataracts in only one eye?

The decision of whether to implant a multifocal IOL in one eye when the patient’s other eye is healthy depends greatly on the patient’s age and expectations. A surgeon has several options when dealing with a cataract in only one eye.

Why do they do cataract surgery one eye at a time?

If you have cataracts in both eyes, surgery typically is performed on one eye, and then a few days or a few weeks later, it’s performed on the second eye. This approach allows the first eye to recover and your vision in that eye to stabilize before surgery is performed on the fellow eye.

How far apart are cataract surgeries?

Typically, you’ll have the procedures about two to six weeks apart. This way, the first eye has time to heal. Your vision can return in the first eye before the second surgery.

Can cataract surgery be performed on just one eye?

Ensured Binocular Vision – If you have cataract surgery performed on just one eye, you will have to see the world using just one eye while waiting for the second surgery. This can lead to dizziness, discomfort, and frustration. This is not an issue with SBCS since both eyes are treated at once.

Can I wear my glasses after my cataract is removed?

When their significant refractive error is corrected with an intraocular lens (IOL) in the eye with the cataract removed, these patients can no longer wear their old glasses. And if the lens for that eye is removed from their eyeglasses, they may feel woozy, have problems with depth perception or even experience double vision.

What are the advantages of same-day cataract surgery on both eyes?

Also, advantages of same-day cataract surgery on both eyes include fewer office visits, faster recovery of binocular vision for driving and other critical tasks, and a quicker return to normal living.

Does unilateral cataract surgery improve visual function?

Studying nearly 1,800 patients who had not yet undergone surgery for cataract, researchers concluded that unilateral cataract surgery (i.e., surgery in one eye) improves visual functioning, the largest gains are found in patients who undergo second-eye cataract surgery.