Cataract Surgery

"My vision is getting worse. Things look pretty foggy. It's hard for me to drive at night because headlights really bother me. Today's newspaper had an ad about a large medical center that specializes in cataract surgery. The ad says the surgery is simple and has no risks. The center guarantees that patients will be able to see perfectly after surgery. I don't know what to do."

Cataracts are a normal part of aging; they usually develop over time and don't have to be removed immediately. You generally can wait to have the surgery until your vision begins to bother you.

[big]If your doctor tells you that you have a cataract, ask whether you need surgery right away, what your risks are based on your general health, and what type of surgery may be appropriate for you, should you choose it.

Be suspicious of any promotion promising completely successful, risk-free cataract surgery. Cataract surgery has a very high success rate, but no surgery is free from risk. Serious complications are rare, but when they do occur, they could result in loss of vision.

WHO CARES:

• YOUR STATE ATTORNEY GENERAL
• THE FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION
• Division of Service Industry Practices
  6th Street and Pennsylvania Ave., NW
  Washington, D.C. 20580
  202-326-3305
• NATIONAL EYE INSTITUTE
• NATIONAL SOCIETY TO PREVENT BLINDNESS
• AMERICAN ACADEMY OF OPHTHALMOLOGY
• THE NATIONAL CENTER FOR VISION AND AGING
• PREVENT BLINDNESS AMERICA