Cataract surgery and macular degeneration: What to know Health ConditionsHealth ConditionsAlzheimer's & DementiaAnxietyArthritisAsthma & AllergiesBreast CancerCancerCardiovascular HealthCOVID-19Dermatology & SkincareDiabetesEnvironment & SustainabilityExercise & FitnessEye HealthHeadache & MigraineHealth EquityHIV & AIDSHuman BiologyInflammatory Bowel DiseaseLeukemiaLGBTQIA+Men's HealthMental HealthMultiple Sclerosis (MS)NutritionParkinson's DiseasePsoriasisSexual HealthWomen's HealthDiscoverNewsLatest NewsOriginal SeriesMedical MythsHonest NutritionThrough My EyesNew Normal HealthPodcastsHow to understand chronic painWhat is behind vaccine hesitancy?The amazing story of hepatitis C, from discovery to cureNew directions in dementia researchCan psychedelics rewire a depressed, anxious brain?Why climate change matters for human healthToolsGeneral HealthDrugs A-ZHealth HubsHealth ToolsBMI Calculators and ChartsBlood Pressure Chart: Ranges and GuideBreast Cancer: Self-Examination GuideSleep CalculatorHealth ProductsAffordable Therapy OptionsBlood Pressure MonitorsDiabetic SuppliesFitness TrackersHome GymsGreen Cleaning ProductsHow to Shop for CBDQuizzesRA Myths vs FactsType 2 Diabetes: Managing Blood SugarAnkylosing Spondylitis Pain: Fact or FictionConnectAbout Medical News TodayWho We AreOur Editorial ProcessContent IntegrityConscious LanguageNewslettersSign UpFollow UsMedical News TodayHealth ConditionsDiscoverToolsConnectSubscribe Cataract surgery and macular degeneration CorrelationMedically reviewed by Leela Raju, MD — By Steph Coelho on July 21, 2022If a person has cataract surgery, it will not affect their risk of developing or progressing macular degeneration. Share on PinterestMarioGuti/Getty ImagesMacular degeneration is a condition that affects the macula of the eye. It impacts the center part of the light-sensitive retina and affects a person’s central vision. A cataract is another eye disorder that can affect a person’s vision. Read about the comparisons between the two conditions here. The only way to treat cloudy lenses is through cataract surgery. There is currently no cure for macular degeneration, but cataract surgery may have some benefits for a person’s vision. In this article, we look at whether cataract surgery is safe for people with macular degeneration. We also explore whether it can worsen the condition and help with vision loss. Macular degeneration Macular degeneration is a common cause of vision loss in older adults, affecting almost 1.8 million people in the United States. People with macular degeneration may experience:problems seeing objectsdistortions in vision, such as straight lines appearing wavya dampened ability to see colora black spot at the center of their vision Macular degeneration has dry and wet forms. Learn more about eye health at our dedicated hub. Cataract surgery and macular degeneration A 2017 review states that there was not enough data at the time to conclude whether cataract surgery was harmful or not in people with macular degeneration. However, according to the American Academy of Opthalmology (AAO), having cataract surgery will not affect a person’s risk of developing macular degeneration. The National Eye Institute also states that cataract surgery does not cause disease progression in people with macular degeneration. A 2022 randomized controlled clinical trial involving 1,195 participants who received cataract surgery found in a 10-year follow-up that surgery did not impact the risk of developing macular degeneration. Another study from 2022 involving 111 Finnish participants concludes that there is no reason to delay cataract surgery in people with the wet type of macular degeneration. Will it improve vision with macular degeneration Cataract surgery can help let more light into the eye by eliminating lens cloudiness due to cataracts, but it cannot restore central vision loss due to macular degeneration. This surgery will only improve a person’s vision if cataracts impair their vision. In some people with advanced macular degeneration, the retina is so damaged that cataract surgery will not improve vision. Diagnosis Doctors diagnose macular degeneration through an eye exam. They may also recommend a test called optical coherence tomography to take pictures of the eye’s interior. The exam will help the doctor determine whether the person is suitable for cataract removal surgery. Determining the main cause of vision loss is also crucial. If a person’s vision loss is due mainly to severe macular degeneration, cataract surgery may not help as much, but it can make things brighter. How cataract surgery works There are two types of cataract surgeries: small-incision and extracapsular. Small-incision surgery involves inserting a small probe into the eye through a tiny corneal incision. The probe helps break up the damaged lens by emitting ultrasound waves, making it easier to extract via suction. Extracapsular surgery requires a slighlty larger incision in the cornea, allowing the surgeon to remove the lens core in one piece. Regardless of the technique, the surgeon will replace the eye’s natural lens with a plastic intraocular lens. Treatment for macular degeneration Cataract surgery cannot treat or cure macular degeneration. A person may benefit from wearing glasses and vision aids. Find out what types of glasses may help. There is currently no cure for dry macular degeneration, but some evidence suggests that supplementing with certain vitamins and minerals may help slow the condition’s progression. Treatment for wet macular degeneration involves taking anti-vascular endothelial growth factor injections, which can reduce the number of new blood vessels in the retina and limit leakage. Laser surgery can also help reduce blood vessels and prevent fluid leakage in some people. Learn more about treatments for macular degeneration. Summary Macular degeneration is a condition that affects central vision. There is currently no cure for the most common form of macular degeneration. The AAO suggests that cataract surgery will not affect a person’s risk of developing macular degeneration. Although the surgery will not treat macular degeneration, it may help improve a person’s vision if cataracts are the main cause of vision problems. Last medically reviewed on July 21, 2022Eye Health / BlindnessMedically reviewed by Leela Raju, MD — By Steph Coelho on July 21, 2022 Latest newsWhat sets 'SuperAgers' apart? Their unusually large neuronsOmega-3 may provide a brain boost for people in midlifeSeasonal affective disorder (SAD): How to beat it this fall and winterCDC: Monkeypox in the US 'unlikely to be eliminated in the near future'Why are more women prone to Alzheimer's? New clues arise Related CoverageMacular degeneration vs. Cataracts: ComparisonsMedically reviewed by Vicente Diaz, MD, MBA Cataracts and macular degeneration can affect a person's vision over time. Learn how they differ in terms of symptoms, causes, diagnosis, and…READ MOREMacular degeneration laser surgery: What to knowMedically reviewed by Vicente Diaz, MD, MBA Laser surgery for age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can help reduce further vision loss in those with the "wet" type of the condition. Learn more…READ MOREWhat is exudative macular degeneration? Exudative macular degeneration is a progressive eye disease that causes leaky blood vessels and can lead to vision loss. Learn more.READ MOREMyopic macular degeneration: What to knowMedically reviewed by Vicente Diaz, MD, MBA Myopia causes the retina to stretch which can lead to the degeneration of the macula. The resulting condition is MMD. Learn more about the condition…READ MOREBenefits of lutein for macular degeneration Lutein promotes eye health and can help reduce the risk of macular degeneration. Learn more here about the benefits, sources, and more. READ MORE