There’s little denying that having cataract surgery can help you to improve your vision. Many of our patients who have cataract surgery are surprised at the vibrant colors they can now see as well as their overall vision improvement, especially at night. This improvement in night vision sparked an Australian study where patients were tested using a driving simulator both before and after surgery. The study found that crashes and near misses decreased almost 50% after surgery. These findings were recently presented at the 2019 Annual Meeting of the American Academy of Ophthalmology.

How Cataract Surgery Can Improve Your Driving

This study is extremely promising and should be good news for those who may be on the fence about whether or not to have cataract surgery. Below are several symptoms of cataracts that you may be experiencing:

• Sensitivity to light
• Blurry vision
• Halos around lights
• Poor night vision
• Glare

These symptoms are the very problems that cause driving difficulties. By having cataract surgery, you can not only significantly improve your vision, but also experience relief from these symptoms which make driving, especially at night, very difficult.

Additional Benefits of Cataract Surgery

While cataract surgery can significantly improve your driving abilities, there are several other benefits of successful cataract surgery you’ll enjoy including:

Reduce Your Risk of Falls

Vision problems are a major factor that contributes to the risk of falls. As we age, falls become much more dangerous and a 2012 study showed that those individuals who had cataract surgery experienced a 16% decrease in the odds of a hip fracture within a year after the procedure.

Improve Your Quality of Life

Not only can cataract surgery allow you to improve your driving abilities, but it can also improve your overall quality of life. Being able to see more clearly can help you in a multitude of different ways including reading, writing and working with computers.

Live Longer

Another study from 2013 found a correlation between living longer and those individuals who had cataract surgery.

Interested in Learning More About Cataract Surgery?

We hope this article provided some insight regarding the many benefits of cataract surgery. If you still have questions about whether you may be a good candidate for the cataract surgery, don’t hesitate to reach out to Palmetto Eye & Laser Center today by email or phone at 864-583-6381. We look forward to hearing from you soon.