Cataract surgery can often be delayed safely, provided your vision remains adequate for daily tasks and you are monitored regularly.
When delay is usually safe
Slowly progressing cataracts allow flexibility in timing.
- Legal and comfortable driving vision with good contrast
- Manageable glare and reading difficulties using glasses and lighting
- No urgent need for clearer lenses to treat other eye conditions
- Stable general health and access to routine eye checks
- Clear understanding of signs that should trigger earlier surgery
When delay becomes less safe
Problems increase as cataracts advance.
- Rising risk of falls, road accidents, or work‑related errors
- Very dense lenses making surgery technically more demanding
- Inability to monitor or treat retinal or optic‑nerve disease properly
- Significant impact on independence, mood, or social interaction
- Advice from your clinician that benefits now clearly outweigh waiting
