A new article published in the journal of Ophthalmology suggested that consuming a moderate amount of wine may delay the development of cataracts. Check out the write-up here. Because oxidative stress plays a role in cataract formation, the researchers hypothesized that antioxidants in wine may protect from cataract formation.
In a word, yes. When medically indicated, cataract surgery is covered by Medicare and commercial insurances. “Medically indicated” means that the patient must be experiencing symptoms and have some disability from the cataract; in some cases they may be required to meet certain visual acuity thresholds. Your eye doctor (ophthalmologist or optometrist) can help determine if a cataract is visually significant.
With that said, there are a number of ancillary services and options that can be performed in conjunction with basic cataract surgery that are not covered by Medicare or commercial insurance. One example would be the type of lens implant placed during cataract surgery, non-covered IOL (intraocular lens) options include lenses that correct astigmatism and also those that correct presbyopia, allowing a patient to see at distance and up close without glasses.
It is also important to note that despite cataract surgery being “covered” by Medicare and commercial insurance, it is still subject to deductibles, copays, and co-insurance. See this page to learn more about the cost of cataract surgery.
In a word, yes. The association between cigarette smoking and cataract formation has been known for some time, and was recently reaffirmed by a new study published in the Journal of Cataract and Refractive Surgery here. Interestingly, this survey used urine tests for cotinine, which is greatly increased in cigarette smokers, to verify smoking status (because not everyone admits to it on a survey!). Across the entire studied population, cigarette smoking increased the risk of cataract formation by approximately 35%. While cataracts can be removed with cataract surgery, cigarette smoking can also increase the frequency of other blinding eye diseases, such as macular degeneration, which are not so readily treated.
A new study has findings that add to the growing list of cataract surgery benefits: a lower risk of traffic crashes. A recently published population-based study out of Toronto suggests that having cataract surgery in at least one eye may lower the risk of drivers subsequently getting in serious traffic accidents by 9%. The study, published in JAMA Ophthalmology, looked at data from over 500,000 patients. This is another great example of “big data” being used to uncover associations that were previously only hypothesized.
A cataract forms when the natural lens in the eye becomes cloudy and discolored. This can cause blurry vision, difficulty driving or reading, and increasing symptoms of glare and haloes around lights. A comprehensive eye exam performed by an eye care provider is all that is needed to diagnose cataracts. Cataract surgery has become one of the most commonly performed surgeries in the world because modern technology allows cataract surgeons to achieve consistent results while minimizing the risk of complications.
Even the Queen couldn’t avoid getting cataracts! A news release from Buckingham palace revealed that Queen Elizabeth II recently underwent successful cataract surgery. The Queen turned 92 in April; I am impressed that she didn’t need to have cataract surgery sooner as most patients develop visually significant cataracts earlier in life. However, I have seen a number of patients in their 80s and 90s who have impressively clear lenses (the part of the eye that develops a cataract) and don’t yet need cataract surgery. Family history and genetics can predispose to cataract development, along with systemic health conditions (i.e. diabetes) and environmental exposures (i.e. excessive sun exposure).
To date, the oldest patient I have performed cataract surgery on was 94 at the time. She was quite spry and in great overall health (not unlike the queen!). Following her successful surgery she noticed an improvement in her ability to read and see the faces of her great grandchildren! She was quite happy and a joy to care for.
Cataract surgery is almost always an elective procedure, which means that it is up to the patient to decide when to proceed with the eye surgery. I counsel patients that modern cataract surgery has an incredibly good success rate (arguably one of the best in medicine), but that no surgery is 100% without the chance of complications. As such, the patient must have a cataract that is causing impairment in their ability to see and perform daily activities and hobbies that they enjoy. Visual problems may also include bothersome glare when driving at night, leading to patients to be more reluctant to drive at night. An eye doctor can examine your eyes to evaluate for the presence and severity of cataracts.