Cataract surgery is a straightforward procedure, typically lasting between 10 to 15 minutes. Recovery is usually quick and uncomplicated, with most people experiencing good vision within 48 hours and being fully healed within six weeks.
But, the speed at which you heal can depend on a variety of factors, with age being a major one.
Studies have found that in the very elderly population, visual acuity after cataract surgery tends to be lower than in younger people. For example, a study published in the British Medical Journal found more than a third of the participants aged 85 or older were up to three times more likely to experience severe impairment in one eye than younger people.
This is largely due to the healing rate and the likelihood of other eye conditions developing or already existing being much higher. In other words, the older you are, the more likely you are to have pre-existing eye conditions (such as advanced presbyopia) and the slower your body will heal in comparison to younger people.
Why Can Slower Healing Rates Affect Recovery Time?
The body tends to heal more slowly with age. Studies have suggested that this is due to the body’s ability to send immune signals to heal wounds being slower.
This can be applied to cataract surgery recovery time.
Although the cataract surgery procedure follows a minimal keyhole approach and leaves very tiny incisions, the body still needs to send signals to the cells in order for them heal.
Additionally, the eyes of an elderly patient are more likely to have experienced a higher degree of wear and tear than a younger one.
They are more likely to have sustained various stages of eye trauma over the course of their lifetime, whether it’s from rubbing their eyes, dry eye disease or from years of working.
This can make the eyes more delicate which too can affect healing rate.
Why Can Pre-Existing Eye Conditions Affect Recovery Time?
Performing cataract surgery on eyes with pre-existing conditions is often difficult and there can be an increased risk of complications developing.
The most common pre-existing problem is dry eye disease.
Dry eyes are often under-diagnosed but amenable to treatment. The degree of dry eye symptoms and how it affects vision are essential factors.
Recent research (2017) found that “patient-reported visual functioning, dry eye symptoms, and health anxiety are more closely associated with patients’ postoperative satisfaction than with the objective clinical measures of visual acuity or the signs of dry eye.”
As another example, cataract surgery on a patient with advanced myopia can increase the risk of retinal detachment, which is a serious complication.
What about glaucoma?
It’s possible to carry out cataract surgery on someone with glaucoma but again, there’s a higher risk of complications.
In addition, some types of intraocular lens (IOLs) may not be suitable if you have advanced glaucoma as it can cause issues like sensitivity to glare.
Due to the higher risk of complications, the recovery time for people with pre-existing eye conditions can be longer.
They often have to be more cautious while in recovery. And if complications do develop, this can obviously slow down recovery even further.
Fortunately, the majority of serious complications can be treated quickly and easily before they advance with medication or corrective surgery.
Is There is an Age Limit for Cataract Surgery?
Although cataract surgery recovery time varies according to different ages, that doesn’t mean older people will always take longer to heal than younger.
It depends on the individual as everyone’s bodies heal at different rates. That’s why age isn’t necessarily the factor that will affect the outcome of your surgery.
In fact, the oldest cataract surgery patient had the operation at 109 years old – and it was successful.
So what else can affect the recovery time?
One important factor is how advanced your cataracts are. For most people, if cataracts are left untreated, they will merely continue to get worse over time.
This will continually reduce vision, preventing them from carrying out normal everyday tasks like driving and can even cause total blindness.
If cataracts get to this stage (also known as being “hyper-mature”), it can make them even more difficult to remove and more likely to lead to post-surgery complications.
As a rule, cataract surgery should be performed soon after vision issues appear, as opposed to waiting months or even years.
Get the Best Results and Smoothest Recovery with the Right Surgeon and Clinic
When you choose the right surgeon and provider for your cataract surgery, you’ll be well on your way to clear vision and a smooth recovery.
Look for a surgeon who is both highly qualified and highly experienced.
This will allow you to feel reassured that you’re in safe, capable hands. For instance, at Focus Clinic, our two surgeons are not only ophthalmologists but they’ve also performed more than 35,000 proceduresbetween them over the course of a combined 45 years.
Their wealth of experience is what has lead to our clinic having a 100 percent success rate.
We also have an unbeatable 9.9 out of 10 rating on Trustpilot, which is why we’re ranked at #1.
This is down to both our high success rate and excellent customer service.
Interested in Reading More About Cataract Surgery?
Recovery time isn’t the only thing you might want to know.
From procedure specifics like cataract surgery lens options to cost estimates if you want to go private, we’ve covered it all in our cataracts guide.
