What to Do About the Cataract in my Good Eye?

Are you someone who has been told "to wait as long as possible" to have cataract surgery in your good eye, because you have poor vision in the eye that had the ocular melanoma? Has a doctor told you NEVER to have cataract surgery in your better eye? Is your cataract surgeon scared to treat the cataract in your good eye? Read on! You are not alone.  We are born with a natural lens in our eye that starts off crystal clear. Our lens focuses light onto the retina inside so that we can see. Because the lens is living tissue, it continues to grow with us throughout our lives. Getting a cataract is a normal part of aging, and God-willing we will all live long enough to need to have cataract surgery to continue seeing well.  Cataract surgery is the number one most commonly performed operation in the world. In skilled hands, it may take less than 15 minutes, and vision is improved almost immediately in an out-patient setting with almost immediate return to every day life and activities.  However, there are many patients who are told that they should not have cataract surgery when they need it. When do you know you need to have cataract surgery? Is having cataract surgery any different if I had ocular melanoma? Welcome to Finding Your Way with Ocular Melanoma, a guide to understanding everything there is to know about your experience with this rare cancer. Learn through the lens of my knowledge and clinical experience as a physician expert and passionate patient advocate. The more you know about ocular melanoma, the better you will do, and the better you will live. Let's go! The content shared on the Finding Your Way with Ocular Melanoma podcast is for informational and educational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. The information provided must not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. As a listener, you are responsible for your own health-related decisions and must consider consulting with a healthcare professional for personalized medical advice.  Tara McCannel MD PhD is a an ocular oncologist, vitreoretinal surgeon and co-founder of Seyhart Wellness. She is also the host of the Mind Body MD podcast where she shares her passion for holistic health and wellness.