Is cataract surgery really that bad? 4 biggest questions answered by an ophthalmologist, plus signs and symptoms not to ignore
While it's not as sunny an experience as retirement, grandkids or cruising, cataracts are, unfortunately, in the cards for many of us as we age. However, despite the anxiety-provoking nature of eye surgery, cataract surgery is nothing to be feared, according to an ophthalmologist.
This Cataract Awareness Month, we decided to delve into the common medical procedure and answer all of your burning questions. What are the signs and symptoms of cataracts and what should patients know about the procedure? Scroll down to find out.
This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Contact a qualified medical professional before engaging in any physical activity, or making any changes to your diet, medication or lifestyle.
This article was originally published in 2024.
A cataract is a cloudy area in the lens of the eye (behind the iris and the pupil) that gradually leads to a decrease in vision.
Cataracts can vary in size and are extremely common, impacting almost everyone as they age. According to the Canadian Association of Optometrists, cataracts may develop slowly over several years or form rapidly in a matter of months. If you get regular eye exams, your eye doctor may diagnose you with a cataract before you experience any vision loss.
Symptoms vary depending on the severity of the cataract. Because cataracts can develop over several years, someone with an early-stage cataract may not experience any symptoms. However, as the severity and size of the cataract grow, symptoms may include:
Blurry, foggy or double vision
Decreased night vision
Seeing halos around lights
Seeing dull or muted colours, or having difficulty identifying certain colours
Sensitivity to bright lights
Consider cataracts the grey hairs of eye health, as they impact almost everyone as they age.
"It's one of those things that if you live long enough, [you] will develop cataracts," says Dr. Ken Roberts, a consultant ophthalmologist at Horizon Health Network in New Brunswick.
More than 3.5 million Canadians live with cataracts, which is more than double the next leading cause of vision loss (age-related macular degeneration).
Because it's so common, cataract surgery has become the number one most-performed surgery in Canada.
It's in the "same category as wisdom teeth," says Roberts. "We all get them. It's just that common."
While sunglasses and antioxidant-rich foods may help slow the growth of cataracts, with every candle on your birthday cake, your risk of developing them increases. In Canada, more than 80 per cent of cases are diagnosed in populations aged 60 and over. In groups younger than 60, early-onset cataracts may be linked to diabetes, trauma, or inherited genetic conditions.
Cataracts, in almost all cases, are completely treatable. Modern cataract surgery is a safe, routine procedure typically done in less than 30 minutes. While the setting may differ depending on local healthcare resources, the surgery is commonly done in an outpatient setting.
During cataract surgery, your eye surgeon will remove the cloudy crystalline lens from the eye and replace it with a clear implant known as an intraocular lens. Despite its surgical nature, Roberts says most patients don't require needles or stitches.
To simplify, "the procedure is done by ultrasound," he says. "We freeze the eye with a gel that works extremely well," so while you may feel subtle pressure or your doctor touching your face, "nothing is painful."
While cataract treatment is not a "spa day," it's not anything "you have to bear," Roberts tells Yahoo Canada. Post-procedure, most patients comment that it "wasn't so bad."
Because "we've done so many cataracts over the last 20-30 years," eye surgeons know what to expect and are "very good at predicting the cases that we're going to have trouble with."
While some people may recall cataracts used to have to be "ripe" (i.e. dense) to be operated on, surgeons no longer have to wait until patients are legally blind to perform the procedure.
"Generally, we look at pulling the trigger for cataract surgery once [patients] have complaints," Roberts says. "If they can't see well at night, are changing their glasses prescriptions every six months, or no longer meet the driving standards, "then we look at removing cataracts. We [no longer] have to wait until they're severe."
The "nice thing" about cataract surgery is that it's "normally a one-and-done per eye," he says. The surgery "will last a lifetime," so pending complications, you're free to go and live your life.
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10 best and worst deli meats you can buy at grocery stores in Canada, ranked by a nutrition coach: Turkey breast, ham, roast beef and other popular meats
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Contact a qualified medical professional before engaging in any physical activity, or making any changes to your diet, medication or lifestyle. As a nutrition coach, I know consistently eating balanced meals sometimes means choosing convenience. Deli meats are a super quick source of protein that can help people create more nutritious meals when they're short on time. Here, I've ranked 10 of the most common deli meats found in Canadian grocery stores — like turkey breast, ham, roast beef and Canadian-style bacon — using nutritional breakdowns and official health recommendations to give you a clear picture of what you can safely add to your cart and what might be worth rethinking. Processed meat has been under scrutiny for years. In 2015, the World Health Organization classified processed meats (like bacon, ham and bologna) as Group 1 carcinogens, meaning there's sufficient evidence linking them to colorectal cancer. 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Per 56 g (about two slices): Calories: 61 Protein: 8 g Fat: 3 g (Saturated: 1 g) Sodium: 479 mg Carbohydrates: 1 g No Canadian deli meat list would be complete without Montreal-style smoked meat, used to make the classic sandwich on whole grain rye with mustard or paired with sauerkraut and Swiss cheese in a Reuben. M&M Food Market Montreal Smoked Meat gets high praise from customers for its tenderness and authentic flavour. Although it's not overly salty and less processed than salami and many cured meats, it's still moderately high in fat and sodium. It has a decent amount of protein from lean brisket, but its preparation means it's best positioned midway in the list as an occasional protein swap for sandwiches or charcuterie. Per 56 g: Calories: 78 Protein: 10 g Fat: 4 g (Saturated: 2 g) Sodium: 493 mg Carbohydrates: 0.6 g (Sugars: 0.6 g) Traditional kolbassa can be pretty fatty, but this European-style lean ham version from Piller's is higher in protein with moderate fat. 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Contact a qualified medical professional before engaging in any physical activity, or making any changes to your diet, medication or lifestyle. The non-profit adds that colorectal cancer might be perceived as an "old person's disease," but shares that early-onset colorectal cancer is on the rise and that cancer doesn't care about your age. Most new cases still occur in people age 50 and above, but Canadians born after 1980 are two to two-and-a-half times more likely to be diagnosed with colorectal cancer before age 50 compared to earlier generations. According Colorectal Cancer Canada, 26 people die from the illness everyday on average, with around 69 people receiving a diagnosis daily. For 2024, it was estimated that 9,400 Canadians died from colorectal cancer, making up 11 per cent of all cancer deaths last year. View this post on Instagram A post shared by Colorectal Cancer Canada (@coloncanada) Colorectal cancer cancer grows more slowly than some other cancer and can stay in the colon or rectum for months or even years. If left untreated, it can spread to other parts of the body, but if found early, colorectal cancer can often be cured. This is why Stein points out that colorectal cancer can be preventable through lifestyle choices, awareness of symptoms and early screening. In 1995, while juggling the demands of his legal career, Stein began noticing various concerning symptoms. Those included blood in his stool, migraines, abdominal pain and nausea, which he dismissed as related to stress. "I was turning 41 at the time and had no idea what cancer even was," Stein recalls in a previous interview with Yahoo Canada. "People didn't say that word so much in 1995, let alone colorectal cancer. These were symptoms that came and went, so I ignored them." It wasn't until he finally had a fecal occult blood test and colonoscopies that the diagnosis hit: Stage IV colorectal cancer, which had spread to his liver and lungs. Still, Stein stresses a person's health doesn't have to get to this point; he shares five things Canadians should and shouldn't do to help prevent colorectal cancer. Unexplained changes in bowel habits, blood in the stool, persistent abdominal pain, unexplained weight loss or fatigue should never be symptoms you ignore. These signs might also be linked to other gastrointestinal conditions, including ulcers, Crohn's disease or hemorrhoids, according to the Colorectal Cancer Canada website. That means "just because you have these symptoms doesn't mean you have colon cancer," Stein adds. "But they are a reason to be checked out." Regular screenings are important because colorectal cancer often develops from precancerous polyps, or growths in the colon or rectum. Catching and removing these polyps early can prevent them from becoming cancerous. Starting at age 50, you should undergo routine fecal occult blood tests and colonoscopies. Even though everybody has the right to get screened starting at age 50, the Canadian Partnership Against Cancer states the "screening participation rate across the country is still below the national target of 60 per cent." Despite this, Colorectal Cancer Canada highlights that the screening guidelines have effectively reduced cancer rates in those over age 50, demonstrating their life-saving potential. However, there is a rise in cases among younger adults, particularly those with a family history of colorectal cancer, Stein notes. These individuals are often diagnosed at a later stage because they are not getting screened and health-care professionals may not suspect cancer at a young age. If you're under 50 and experiencing related symptoms, or have a family history of colorectal cancer or polyps, you may need to start screening early. "Speak to your doctor about your personal testing plan," the organization advises. The Foods That Fight Cancer program by Colorectal Cancer Canada recommends eating a diet rich in whole grains, fruits and vegetables. These foods are high in fibre, which helps keep the digestive system healthy and can lower the risk of colorectal cancer. In addition to these foods, the program advises limiting the intake of processed meats and red meat, which are associated with a higher risk of colorectal cancer. It also recommends reducing the amount of alcohol and sugary beverages you drink. Highly processed foods should be minimized as well. By making these dietary changes, the risk of developing colorectal cancer can be minimized, Stein points out. Incorporate regular exercise into your routine, as physical inactivity is a significant risk factor for colorectal cancer. Stein highlights, "Having a sedentary lifestyle, in other words, being a couch potato, is a risk factor." Staying active not only helps maintain a healthy weight but also reduces the risk of colorectal cancer. According to Colorectal Cancer Canada, regular physical activity can lower the risk by improving bowel function and reducing inflammation. Discuss your family history of colorectal cancer with a health-care provider so you understand the risk. If you have a first-degree relative — such as a parent, sibling or child — who's had colorectal cancer, your risk is higher. Shared genetics and lifestyle factors contribute to this increased risk, according to Colorectal Cancer Canada. Moreover, genetic syndromes like Lynch syndrome (hereditary nonpolyposis colorectal cancer) can elevate your risk further. People with Lynch syndrome are more likely to develop colorectal cancer, often at a younger age. Other inherited conditions, like familial adenomatous polyposis (FAP), which causes numerous polyps in the colon and rectum, also heighten the risk. "Your age and generic history of your family are risk factors that you can't control," Stein says, adding the goal is to focus on what can be controlled, like eating healthier foods and exercising. Prevention is often more straightforward than treatment, which can be invasive and challenging. As Stein states, "it's so much easier to prevent something (than to treat it)." "All you have to do is get a kit, poop in your toilet, send it to the lab with a little stick and you find out if it's positive," Stein explains. If it does turn out positive, you would then go for a colonoscopy so that the polyp can be located. "If there is a polyp, they remove it and you catch the cancer early. Otherwise, you go through what I went through, which is quite challenging, to say the least. And at worst, people die." By focusing on early screening and prevention, potential issues can be caught early before developing into cancer, ultimately saving lives and reducing the burden of treatment.