What is the only treatment for cataracts?

• A. Surgical removal
• B. Corrective lenses only
• C. Laser therapy only
• D. Eye drops

Answer: (A)

Cataracts cloud the natural lens, and that cloudiness cannot be reversed by medicines or refractive glasses. The only proven treatment is surgical removal of the cloudy lens, usually with implantation of an artificial intraocular lens to restore focusing power. Glasses or contact lenses may help a person see better in the meantime or after surgery for residual refractive errors, but they do not remove the cataract itself. Laser therapy isn’t a stand-alone treatment for cataracts; it’s used mainly to assist with certain steps during the surgical procedure or to manage some eye conditions after surgery. Eye drops designed to dissolve cataracts are not an accepted, effective treatment in current practice.