Can Cataracts Come Back? A Guide for Lafayette Seniors

Written By: The Peaks at Old Laramie Trail

Did you know that cataracts affect more than half of the population over 80, according to the National Institutes of Health? With so many people dealing with cataracts, it's vital that we know how to handle the condition.

But can cataracts come back after you've dealt with them? If you're curious about senior vision and eye care tips, we're here to help.

Our senior living community is located in Lafayette, CO, a great city to live in when you're enjoying your golden years. Known for its bustling arts and rich culture, few cities in the United States are so perfect for art lovers. We're also just southwest of Boulder, making it an easy day trip.

Read on to learn more about cataract regrowth and how it will affect your aging eyesight during your time in assisted living.

The Bottom Line

We'll go more in-depth on this issue, but to get the answer out of the way: No, cataracts can not return after surgery. That's because the surgery to remove cataracts also removes your lens. With no lens (and an artificial one in place), cataracts are no longer possible.

What Are Cataracts?

What are cataracts, and how do they impact your senior vision?

According to the Cleveland Clinic, cataracts are a clouded part of the lens of your eye. These cataracts can appear for many reasons, but they're exceptionally common as we age. They're so common that many medical professionals consider them to be part of aging!

Traumatic Cataracts

Traumatic cataracts can appear in the eye after an injury. Something like a fall is a common way for adults and seniors to find themselves with an unexpected cataract.

Being struck in the eye is another common way. Traumatic cataracts are often more difficult to repair because the trauma may have caused other damage around the eye.

Secondary Cataracts

If you've heard of cataracts coming back, you were likely hearing about secondary cataracts.

When you have cataracts removed, the surgery includes removing the lens of your eye. Afterward, the lens is replaced with an artificial lens.

If you have cataract symptoms after your surgery, it's called a secondary cataract. That means that something is causing your lens to cloud up after the surgery.

It's exceptionally common, and corrective surgeries are generally simple. However, you'll need medical attention to have the problem fixed.

Specific Locations

Cataracts have their names adjusted depending on where on the lens they are. Your medical professional can help you discover this information. According to the Mayo Clinic, some common cataracts are:

Posterior subcapsular cataract
Cortical cataract
Nuclear sclerotic cataract

These three types of cataracts are considered the most common cataracts in seniors.

Symptoms of Cataracts

Cataracts affect your eye, so it's inherent that they affect your vision. But what other symptoms should you expect? Here are some of the main symptoms of cataracts in seniors.

Discomfort

Cataracts are usually not that painful. However, they still cause discomfort in a variety of ways.

The eye can feel permanently irritated as a result of the cataract. Heavy sensitivity can also cause some discomfort.

For example, cataracts make your eyes more sensitive to light. The increased sensitivity can cause pain, especially in direct or bright light.

Unfortunately, that can make days outside rather difficult. We recommend using deeply tinted sunglasses until your cataracts are treated.

Blurry Vision

Many people have described life with cataracts as looking at the world through a dirty window. With the issue on your lens itself, there isn't a way to get away from the blurry vision. Some corrective glasses can help, but they won't remove the symptom entirely.

That's especially troublesome when dealing with light. A common symptom is for sources of light to have a halo or pattern around them. If you're familiar with astigmatism, then this symptom is familiar.

Night Vision

You may think that having issues with light means that low light is easier. Sadly, night vision is often worse for people dealing with cataracts.

For seniors who drive, this makes cataracts can be very dangerous for late-night drives. The lights will have blurred halos and hurt your eyes, but other areas will appear much darker. We strongly recommend avoiding driving to aid with this.

Changes in Color and Vision

Blur and streaks aren't the only ways your vision is affected. Many cataract patients report issues with seeing color.

When you have cataracts, your eye can't detect or pick up color as well as it could before. The result is a duller, dimmer view when trying to see colors. Your world won't turn black-and-white, but you should expect some changes.

Doubled vision is also common, as is near-sightedness. In short, you can expect every part of your vision to be altered and worsened.

Cataract Surgery

How will your surgery impact your vibrant life? Now that we better understand cataracts, let's look at the treatments.

The Procedure

Cataract surgery is considered one of the safest surgeries one can get. While there are always risks, such as retinal detachment, these are highly uncommon.

Your lens is removed and replaced with an IOL, or intraocular lens. However, it's important to note that this surgery is a must if dealing with cataracts. Traumatic cataracts also may need further procedures.

The Recovery

Recovering from cataracts takes up to roughly two months, or eight weeks. Your vision will begin returning sooner, but you shouldn't expect to be at "full vision" for at least six weeks.

Some recovery symptoms include:

Discomfort or irritation with the eye
Lingering pain
Worse depth reception during recovery

Most of these symptoms are easily treated with a prescribed painkiller. You should also expect the pain to fade shortly into the recovery.