The safety and effectiveness of cataract surgery are generally well established. About 90% of eyes achieve a visual acuity of 6/12 or better after cataract surgery. In eyes with no pre-existing defects, more than 99% can be expected to achieve this outcome. With the remarkable improvement in cataract surgical techniques leading to shorter operating time, more efficient anaesthesia (from general to regional to topical), and a trend towards day surgery was introduced. Medical complications cannot be ruled out though.
In very elderly people, however, a cautious attitude in recommending any elective surgery, including cataract surgery, is valid. This is mainly because of the pre-existence of eye defects. Increasing age is a risk factor for many cataract surgery complications, for example, rupture of the posterior capsule during surgery, postoperative infection, raised intraocular pressure, and corneal oedema. But still this does not imply that the very old will do poorly. In one of few studies that looked specifically at people aged 85 and over, it was shown that overall results were excellent; about 85% of patients had improved visual acuity and 87% perceived some benefit from the surgery. Cataract extraction is therefore still a highly effective procedure for very elderly though the quality of vision regained may not be in the same 99% success rate seen in younger people.
Roshan Eye Care Hospital conducts cataract surgery in 90 plus aged seniors with anaesthetist monitored anaesthetic care. Vision with or without glasses can be achieved according to the AcrySof monofocal or mutifocal ReSTOR IOL implantation.