Medical Disclaimer

Everything on Be Healthy is published for general information and education. It is not medical advice, and it is no substitute for an examination, diagnosis, or treatment from a qualified eye surgeon or optometrist.

We cannot tell you whether to have surgery

Nothing here can decide whether cataract surgery is right for you, or when. That rests on things only an in-person assessment can establish: how much the cataract is affecting your daily life, the state of the rest of the eye, your measurements for the lens, and any other conditions you have. We do not examine eyes online, and nothing on this site is a recommendation for or against surgery, or for any particular surgeon, clinic, lens, or technique, in your case.

Figures describe groups, not you

When we quote success rates, complication rates, or costs, those are ranges taken from published evidence and they describe many patients, not your eye. Cataract surgery is very successful for most people, but results vary, the uncommon risks are genuine, and an eye with another condition such as macular degeneration or glaucoma can have a good operation yet still see less than hoped. Read every number here as background, not a prediction.

One person’s experience is not instruction

A large part of this site is Pauline’s own account of having both eyes treated. Every eye, every operation, and every recovery differs. What happened for her may not happen for you, and her diary is shared for reassurance and context, never as a set of instructions to follow.

No doctor and patient relationship

Reading this site, or writing to us, does not make us your clinicians. Our reviewer checks articles for general accuracy; he is not your treating surgeon and cannot advise on your individual eyes.

Surgery is still surgery

Cataract surgery is one of the most common and successful operations there is, but it is an operation, with small and real risks. Please discuss anything you read here with a qualified eye surgeon at a proper assessment before acting on it.

In an emergency

If you have sudden loss of vision, severe eye pain, a marked increase in floaters or flashes, or any other eye emergency after surgery or otherwise, contact your eye clinic, your doctor, or your local emergency number straight away. Do not put off seeking help because of anything you have read here.

Accuracy and outside links

We try to keep the information accurate and current, but we make no warranty that it is complete or that it fits your situation, and any reliance you place on it is at your own risk. Links to other sites are offered for reference only, and we are not responsible for their content.

Always ask a professional

For any question about your eyes or about cataract surgery, seek the advice of a qualified eye surgeon or other health professional, and never set aside professional advice because of something you read on this site.