Diseases & Conditions
Toss your reading glasses?
Today's cataract surgery offers personalized lens choices to suit your goals and needs.
- Reviewed by Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
Most surgeries are considered successful if they merely fix the problem at hand. But today's cataract surgery goes a step further, often leaving your vision even better than before.
A cataract — a cloudiness in the lens of the eye — will affect about half of us before age 75, according to the National Eye Institute. The condition can make everyday activities such as reading, handiwork, golf, or driving at night progressively more difficult. But cataracts are typically a later-life addition to other vision problems such as being nearsighted, being farsighted, or seeing blurry at all distances from astigmatism.
To continue reading this article, you must log in.
Subscribe to Harvard Health Online for immediate access to health news and information from Harvard Medical School.
- Research health conditions
- Check your symptoms
- Prepare for a doctor's visit or test
- Find the best treatments and procedures for you
- Explore options for better nutrition and exercise
I'd like to receive access to Harvard Health Online for only $4.99 a month.
Sign Me UpAlready a member? Login ».
About the Author
Maureen Salamon, Executive Editor, Harvard Women's Health Watch
About the Reviewer
Toni Golen, MD, Editor in Chief, Harvard Women's Health Watch; Editorial Advisory Board Member, Harvard Health Publishing; Contributor
Disclaimer:
As a service to our readers, Harvard Health Publishing provides access to our library of archived content. Please note the date of last review or update on all articles.
No content on this site, regardless of date, should ever be used as a substitute for direct medical advice from your doctor or other qualified clinician.
