Dr. Pedro Salvà Palomeque, medical coordinator at Oftalmedic Salvà, explains when to undergo cataract surgery and what the most appropriate timing is.
Cataracts are one of the leading causes of vision loss worldwide, but also one of the eye conditions with the best treatment outcomes. But what is the best time to have cataract surgery?
Dr. Pedro Salvà Palomeque, medical coordinator at Oftalmedic Salvà and cataract specialist, explains what this condition involves and when surgery is most advisable.
What are cataracts?
A cataract is the loss of transparency of the lens, the natural lens of the eye that allows us to focus properly. Over time, this lens becomes cloudy, as if we were looking through a fogged-up glass, causing progressively blurred vision.
It is a process generally associated with ageing, although it can also appear earlier due to factors such as diabetes, trauma, or prolonged use of certain medications.
Symptoms: more than just blurred vision
In its early stages, cataracts may go unnoticed. However, as they progress, characteristic symptoms appear:
- Blurred or cloudy vision.
- Reduced colour intensity.
- Glare, especially when driving at night.
- Increased difficulty in low-light conditions.
- Frequent changes in glasses prescription.
“Patients do not always notice a sudden loss of vision, but rather a gradual decline in visual quality,” explains Dr. Pedro Salvà Palomeque. “Often what bothers them most is not how much they see, but how they see.”
The big change: you no longer need to “wait until it matures”
When should cataract surgery be performed? For years, it was believed that surgery should only be done once the cataract was very advanced. Today, this has completely changed: “Modern surgery is safe, precise and quick, so there is no point in waiting until vision becomes very poor before operating,” says Dr. Pedro Salvà.
In fact, delaying surgery may make the procedure more complex and recovery slower.
So… when is the right time?
There is no exact number or specific prescription level that determines when surgery is needed. The key factor is how much the cataract affects the patient’s daily life. According to Dr. Pedro Salvà, there are three clear signs:
1. When vision limits your daily activities.
If you have difficulty driving, reading, working with screens, or recognising faces, it may be time to consider surgery.
2. When glasses no longer help.
If you frequently change your prescription and still do not see well, the cataract is likely the cause.
3. When it starts affecting your quality of life.
“We don’t treat numbers; we treat people. If the patient feels they no longer see as they used to, that is the most important sign,” the specialist notes.
Experts agree that the decision is based more on the real impact of symptoms on daily life than on the level of lens opacity.
What does the treatment involve?
Surgery is the only effective treatment for cataracts. It involves replacing the cloudy lens with an artificial intraocular lens.
It is a procedure that is:
- Outpatient.
- Painless.
- Quickly recovering.
“Today, in addition to removing the cataract, we can also correct other vision problems such as myopia, astigmatism or presbyopia in the same procedure,” adds Dr. Pedro Salvà.
A clear message: don’t wait until you see poorly
The main shift in today’s approach is clear: cataract surgery is no longer a “last resort” solution.
“The right time to operate is when the cataract interferes with your quality of life. Having surgery on time not only improves vision but also your day-to-day life,” concludes Dr. Pedro Salvà.
