Cataracts is commonly found in older adults. However, they may be seen in young children or babies. Other risk factors include parents or siblings being diagnosed with the condition, prolonged use of steroids, smoking, excessive drinking, and medical conditions such as diabetes.

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The following suggestions may help protect vision and improve your overall health Follow these healthy habits: Maintain a healthy weight. Eat a nutritious diet that includes green leafy vegetables, yellow and orange fruit, fish and whole grains. Avoid smoking. Maintain normal blood pressure and control other medical conditions. Exercise regularly. Wear sunglasses and hats when you are outdoors. Get regular eye exams, and consult your doctor if you notice vision changes.

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Before your surgery, your doctor performs a painless ultrasound test to measure the size and shape of your eye. This helps determine the right type of lens implant (intraocular lens, or IOL). This test will also determines the preferred diopter the doctor will use to correct your vision.

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After cataract surgery, expect your vision to begin improving within a few days. Your vision may be blurry at first as your eye heals and adjusts. Colors may seem brighter after your surgery because you are looking through a new, clear lens. A cataract is usually yellow- or brown-tinted before surgery, muting the look of colors. It’s normal to feel itching and mild discomfort for a couple of days after surgery. Avoid rubbing or pushing on your eye. Your doctor may ask you to wear an eye patch or protective shield the day of surgery. Your doctor may also recommend wearing the eye patch for a few days after your surgery and the protective shield when you sleep during the recovery period. Your doctor may prescribe eyedrops or other medication to prevent infection, reduce inflammation and control eye pressure. Sometimes, these medications can be injected into the eye at the time of surgery. After a couple of days, most of the discomfort should disappear. Often, complete healing occurs within eight weeks.

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You will usually see your eye doctor a day or two after your surgery, the following week, and then again after about a month to monitor healing.

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People who’ve had cataract surgery may develop a secondary cataract. The medical term for this common complication is known as posterior capsule opacification (PCO). This happens when the back of the lens capsule — the part of the lens that wasn’t removed during surgery and that now supports the lens implant — becomes cloudy and impairs your vision. PCO is treated with a painless, five-minute outpatient procedure called yttrium-aluminum-garnet (YAG) laser capsulotomy. In YAG laser capsulotomy, a laser beam is used to make a small opening in the clouded capsule to provide a clear path through which the light can pass. After the procedure, you usually stay in the doctor’s office for about an hour to make sure your eye pressure does not rise. Other complications are rare but can include increased eye pressure and retinal detachment.

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