Cataract Surgery is considered an elective surgery. Despite being the worlds leading cause of blindness, cataract surgery is considered to be “elective” because it is a) planned and b) a non-emergency surgery. This is a technicality of sorts, because who would really elect to go blind. It is a shame that many do each year, but to say that they “elected” to seems misleading.

Often, patients who do have a cataract, are told that their cataract is “not ripe” enough yet. While cataracts do not actually get “ripe”, they do grow to be more and more of a problem. After enough time, cataracts often cause blindness. This means, that most cataract surgeons do not recommend surgery until the cataract becomes a problem for the patient’s vision. It is therefore always best for people to have regular eye exams and to discuss all vision issues with their doctor.

If cataract surgery is considered elective, is it medically necessary? Only your doctor can answer this for you specifically, but just because cataract surgery is elective does not necessarily mean that it is not medically necessary. For example, surgery that is strictly for cosmetic reasons is not medically necessary. Having cataracts removed may be medically necessary if the cataract is causing you decreased vision to the point were you are having loss of vision. These two cases are very different medically.

People over 45 who begin to notice blurry or hazy vision should consult with a cataract surgeon. Often the vision can be restored and with the new lenses on the market near youthful vision is becoming a possibility. Always speak with a licensed medical provider about all vision issues you experience.

Given the dramatic rise in people over 45 due to the Baby Boom, it will be very important for people to be aware that they may be developing a cataract and that while cataract surgery may be called elective, the drastic improvement in quality of life would suggest that cataract surgery is anything but.