80 years old Grandma suffering from Cataract. Is it safe to undergo surgery at this age?

Hello Jennifer, yes it is safe & no, it can't be cured with drops.

Older people tend to have the operation under a local anaesthetic, rather than a general anaesthetic.  The risk, for everyone, is the general anaesthetic.

I don't know what the average age is for a cataract operation.  

A friend of mine had her cataract done when she was over 80 & she thought it was 'wonderful'!  Has your grandmother seen an Ophthalmologist yet?  [That is the surgeon who will carry out her operation.]

Are you in the UK?

Don't worry!

I’ve seen 80yos have this operation. 

I’m afraid there is no medical cure for cataracts - only surgery.

Most people have cataract surgery under LA and go home the same day. The biggest risk is eye infection, but huge precautions are taken to avoid this.

My late Mother had one eye done in her mid 80s without any issues other than she needed to have a family member/friend call to insert the drops 4 times a day. I am in my late 60s and I have had both eyes operated on in the past 15 months with a local anaesthetic. It is a painless procedure.

Hi jennifer, i would recomend surgery for your grandmother. It is a very quick procedure, about 20 mins. Your grandmother will have eye drops before the procedure so she will not feel any discomfort. Her blood pressure would be checked before hand. She will then be given eye drops, antibiotic and steroid for a month. I would imagine your grandmother at the age she is, would still like to be able to read and watch telly, all that sort of stuff. The success rate is very high ad the surgery risk is very low.Your gradmother will be awake for the procedure.  I have no regrets about my cataract surgery, having both eyes done 8 weeks apart and the vision is amazing now.  

Unfortunately there is no other cure however cataract sure is painless (going to the dentist causes more discomfort).  To my knowledge general anesthetic is used only in extreme cases (conditions where a patient cannot lay still).  Couple days prior to surgery drops are put into the eyes and eye is numbed for procedure.  Had mine done this summer 6 weeks apart.  Your mom will be glad to see again.

My parents had cataract surgery for both eyes when they were in their early 80s and had no issues.

I went thru the surgery in my right eye a couple weeks ago and don't know how my mom did all the eyedrops after the surgery since she wasn't in very good shape back then, but she made it thru ok.

Anytime I felt anxious about the surgery for myself, I just thought back to my mom making it thru fine at her age!

She should definitely have it done, but it shouldn't be done until the cataracts are so bad that her vision is at the point where if she were to drive a car, she would no longer be licensed to drive. I'm 58 and just had it done a couple of months ago - the average age for cataract surgery is probably 20 years older than I am, but I had LASIK 15 years ago that I feel caused my cataracts to get so bad that I needed surgery on them at such a relatively young age.

Also, I personally disagree that it's easier than going to the dentist (and I have had extensive dental work done). My first surgery was basically a breeze, but my second surgery was not quite as easy as the first one was (this is a common occurrence though, for the second surgery to be worse than the first and not everyone has this experience, some people have no problems with either surgery). Your mother will probably have a good experience with both eyes, but not everyone does.

I agree with Rick.  I had both of mine done as a result of having to use Prednisolone [steroids].  The first one was in 1992 & I was young.  The second one was in March this year, when I was not so young!  

The surgeon who did mine this time, was very kind & explained what he was doing all the way through.  My local anaesthetic was given to me using drops, so that I felt no pain at all.  I was aware of very bright lights & that I was flat on my back but very comfortable.  I confess that I lost track of time.

I had watched a video of the operation prior to having it but that is not for everyone.

I asked to have both of my cataracts done because they were interfering with my life, I was finding driving a strain this year but now, everything is brilliant & I am very grateful to my Consultants in the hospital where I had my op done.

[The first op was done under a general, which is why I don't know much about it, however, the implant is still the same one & working well.]

 

Hi Jennifer!! 

For  your problem, you need to understand  what is Cataract  and other details. With help of this details you able to take better desicison. Here are few resources : http://www.mahaveereyehospital.com/myths-facts-about-cataract-surgery/ and  http://www.mahaveereyehospital.com/cataract-and-cataract-treatment-in-pune/

My grandmother was in her 90's. Lived to 104.