What You Would Love to Know Before Undergoing Cataract Surgery
As with any surgical procedure, cataract surgery Austin can be an intimidating process to undergo, physically, emotionally, and financially. However, knowing the facts before you take to the chair can help alleviate your concerns, so you can rest easy and see more clearly.
Financial Woes The first fear that most have when considering an operation like cataract surgery is the financial burden that it will place on the household. However, with the average age of cataract surgery patients being over seventy years old, much of the procedure is often covered by Medicare. In 2007, the average cost of laser cataract surgery, after Medicare payments and adjustments was just $241. The cost out of pocket for a cataract removal and artificial lens placement was seven hundred sixty-six dollars. While no one is going to say that it is easy to come up with that money on a moment’s notice, knowing what will be expected of you financially ahead of time can help you plan intelligently.
You Are Not Alone The number of successful cataract surgeries is growing every day and that number is expected to increase exponentially in the coming years. It has been found that approximately half of this country’s population will suffer from cataracts by the time they turn sixty-five years old. That number jumps to nearly 100% at age seventy-five. There are also less common incidents of cataracts in infants, which is generally tied to a mother falling ill during the pregnancy. Illnesses to blame are generally German measles, chickenpox, and similar viruses.
Can You Wait? Generally, the answer to this question is a resounding ‘yes!’ You and your ophthalmologist Austin have the final say about if and when you should undergo cataract surgery. Typically patients will make the commitment to have the surgery done when their vision has been disrupted enough to make it difficult to perform daily tasks, even with corrective lenses. Monitoring the growth of your cataracts is always highly advised, but if you are comfortable with the state of your vision, then chances are that your doctor will agree that you should wait on surgery.
What are the risks? Though this information can be scary to those who are already nervous about undergoing cataract surgery, it is important to know that, as with all surgeries, there are risks. Fortunately, with this type of procedure, cataract surgeons Austin assure us that side effects and complications are rare and the majority can be easily corrected. There is the possibility of surgery, pain, infection, swelling, or bleeding in the area operated on. Another issue that could arise is what some call a ‘secondary cataract’. This occurs because when the natural lens is removed and an artificial lens is put in its place, the surrounding, supportive tissue is left intact. That tissue can become hazy. There are other, even less common issues that can arise during or after the surgery. These should be discussed with your doctor before the procedure takes place. Don’t be afraid to ask questions, as the answers can often help ease your mind.