There are risks to cataract surgery

Q. I've been seeing an optometrist for several years now, and even though he says I don't need a new prescription and he has diagnosed me with the beginning of cataracts, I don't feel I can see as well as I once did. So I made an appointment yesterday with my ophthalmologist, who told me I have bilateral cataracts that have advanced to the point of requiring surgical removal.

Now comes the hard part. My ophthalmologist indicates my risk of retinal detachment will increase. Can this be repaired if it happens? Perhaps I should suffer with poor vision rather than take the chance. What's your take on the matter?

A. Cataracts develop slowly, so we have a tendency to attribute diminished vision to the aging process. They cloud vision, much like looking through a dirty or foggy window. We may see halos around lights, have difficulties reading or driving at night, colors fade and diplopia (double vision) may be present in one eye only.