Generally, ophthalmic surgeons in the U.S. perform 3.6 million cataract surgeries annually. In the midst of the COVID-19 pandemic, cataract surgeries decreased by 97% according to a study released by Strata Decision Technology, a research firm that focuses on healthcare data and analytics.(1) In most cases, it is not harmful to delay cataract surgery for a while — but waiting too long can make a cataract more difficult to remove, according to Mass Eye and Ear, an international center for treatment and research, and a teaching hospital of Harvard Medical School.(2)
For most patients, cataracts are a normal part of aging and result in gradual symptoms of vision changes over several years.(2) Patients are advised to work with their eye surgeon when choosing the right time for surgery. Patients need to consider how much cataracts are affecting daily life, for example with night driving, reading, or using the computer.(2)
Your Sight Matters, a national coalition of ophthalmologists and optometrists, offers these additional facts to consider when planning surgery:
- Cataracts are a degenerative condition. Vision will only get worse – and the only solution is surgery
- Untreated cataracts result in vision loss
- Cataracts interfere with daily activities, such as reading, hobbies, and cleaning the home
- Cataracts can make night driving dangerous.(3)
For hospitals and surgery centers, Edge produces many commonly used compounded ophthalmic products including combination dilating drops, Epi-Shugarcaine, and antibiotic injections (cefuroxime and moxifloxacin).
(1) Strata Decision Technology, Elective Surgery Does Not Mean Optional Surgery; How to Recover from the Impact of Cancelled Procedures, https://www.stratadecision.com/
(2) Mass Eye and Ear, When’s the Best Time to Have Cataract Surgery, https://focus.masseyeandear.org/
(3) Your Sight Matters, Why You Should Not Delay Cataract Surgery, https://yoursightmatters.com/
