There are no medications, eye drops, exercises or glasses that will cause cataracts to disappear once they have formed. Surgery is the only way to remove a cataract. When you are no longer able to see well enough to do the things you like to do, cataract surgery should be considered.
In cataract surgery, the cloudy lens is removed from the eye through a surgical incision. In most cases, the natural lens is replaced with a permanent intraocular lens (IOL) implant.

Before Surgery

To determine if your cataract should be removed, your ophthalmologist (Eye M.D.) will perform a thorough eye examination. Before surgery, your eye will be measured to determine the proper power of the intraocular lens that will be placed in your eye. Ask your ophthalmologist if you should continue taking your usual medications before surgery.
You should make arrangements to have someone drive you home after surgery.

The Day of Surgery

Surgery is usually done on an outpatient basis, either in a hospital, an outpatient surgical center, or an ambulatory surgery center. You may be asked to skip breakfast, depending on the time of your surgery.
When you arrive for surgery, you will be given eye drops and perhaps a mild sedative to help you relax. A local anesthetic will numb your eye and you may be given a small injection to help you feel comfortable during surgery. The skin around your eye will be thoroughly cleansed, and sterile coverings will be placed around your head. Your eye will be kept open by an eyelid speculum. You may see light and movement, but you will not be able to see the surgery while it is happening.
Under an operating microscope, a small incision is made in the eye. In most cataract surgeries, tiny surgical instruments are used to break apart and remove the cloudy lens from the eye. The back membrane of the lens (called the posterior capsule) is left in place.

During cataract surgery, tiny instruments are used to break apart and remove the cloudy lens from the eye.

An Intraocular Lens (iol) Implant.

A plastic, acrylic, or silicone intraocular lens is implanted in the eye to replace the natural lens that was removed. In cataract surgery, the intraocular lens replaces the eye's natural lens. After surgery is completed, your doctor will place a clear shield over your eye. After a short stay in the outpatient recovery area, you will be ready to go home.

Following Surgery

You will need to:
• Use the eye drops as prescribed
• Be careful not to rub or press on your eye
• Avoid strenuous activities until your ophthalmologist tells you to resume them
• Ask your doctor when you can begin driving
• Wear eyeglasses or an eye shield, as advised by your doctor
You can continue most normal daily activities. Over-the-counter pain medicine may be used, if necessary.

Posterior capsulotomy: a laser is used to make an opening in the cloudy lens capsule.

Laser surgery is not used in cataract removal surgery. However, the lens capsule (the part of the eye that holds the lens in place) sometimes becomes cloudy several months or years after the original cataract operation. If the cloudy capsule blurs your vision, your ophthalmologist can perform a second surgery using a laser. During the second procedure, called a posterior capsulotomy, a laser is used to make an opening in the cloudy lens capsule, restoring normal vision. 

• Infection
• Bleeding
• Swelling
• Detachment of the retina

Call your ophthalmologist immediately if you have any of the following symptoms after surgery:

• Pain not relieved by nonprescription pain medication
• Loss of vision
• Nausea, vomiting or excessive coughing
• Injury to the eye

Even if cataract surgery is successful, some patients may not see as well as they would like to. Other eye problems such as macular degeneration (aging of the retina), glaucoma or diabetic retinopathy may limit vision after surgery. Even with these problems, cataract surgery may still be worthwhile.