The decision to proceed with cataract surgery should be based on the person’s visual needs. When the cataract is still mild, it is certainly easier and safer to remove. However, the benefit may be low because the vision is not significantly impaired. When vision is impaired to the point that the person can no longer do activities that he or she likes or needs to do (such as drive or read), then the benefit of having the cataract removed would be high and probably worth the risk of surgery. Cataract surgery techniques have advanced enough so that the procedure is generally very safe, regardless of the severity of the cataract.

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August is Cataract Awareness Month, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology encourages Americans to know their risks, especially people who have diabetes, smoke, or have a family history of cataract.

“Cataract surgery is a very common procedure, with a success rate of more than 95 percent,” says Jeffrey Whitman, MD, of the Key-Whitman Eye Center in Dallas, TX, and an Academy clinical correspondent. “The eye’s natural lens with cataract is removed and replaced by an intraocular lens (IOL) , selected to meet each patient’s vision correction needs. Talk with your Eye M.D. about IOL options and related use of eyeglasses, so together you can select the best IOL for you.”

A few simple tips will help you maintain healthy vision and make the right choices if you develop a cataract.

Get a baseline exam if you’re over 40. As part of the EyeSmart campaign, the Academy and EyeCare America, a public service program of the Foundation of the American Academy of Ophthalmology, recommend that adults with no signs or risk factors for eye disease get a baseline screening exam at age 40 — the time when early signs of disease and vision changes may start to occur. During this visit your Eye M.D. (ophthalmologist) will advise you on how often to have follow-up exams. People of any age with symptoms or risks for eye disease, such as a family history, should see their Eye M.D. to determine a care and follow-up plan.

Know your risk factors. In addition to having a family history of cataract, having diabetes, or being a smoker, other factors can increase your risk of developing a cataract. These include extensive exposure to sunlight , serious eye injury or inflammation, and prolonged use of steroids, especially combined use of oral and inhaled steroids.

Reduce your risks. Use UV-rated sunglasses when outdoors and add a wide-brimmed hat when spending long hours in the midday sun. One of the best things anyone can do for their eyes and overall health is to quit smoking or never start. People with diabetes can reduce cataract risk by carefully controlling their blood sugar through diet, exercise and medications if needed.

Be informed about when to consider surgery. This decision is really up to each person based on his or her daily activities and related vision needs. The concept that the cataract is “ripe,” or ready, is no longer considered a valid reason for surgery. After age 65, most people will see their Eye M.D. at least once a year, where they will have their vision tested and learn whether cataracts are growing. But only an individual can determine whether symptoms like glare, halos, blurriness, dimmed colors or other cataract-related problems are making activities like driving and reading difficult or impossible. The Academy’s consumer guide to cataract surgery offers more information.

Talk to your Eye M.D. When preparing for surgery you will need to give your doctor your complete medical and eye health history, including especially whether you are or have taken Flomax®, Hytrin®, Uroxatral® or Cadura®. These medications can cause the iris to move out of its normal position, which can lead to complications during cataract surgery. You can still have successful surgery if your surgeon knows you have taken these drugs and adjusts his or her surgical technique.

If you have had LASIK or other laser refractive surgery, it’s important to provide your pre-surgery vision correction prescription to your Eye M.D., if possible. (The record of this prescription is also called the ” K card .”)

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