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    Is Cataract Surgery Safe for People With Macular Degeneration?

    Reviewed By Nora Khatib, MD
    Edited By Daniel Porter
    Published Feb. 05, 2024

    Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a frustrating condition that diminishes your ability to see detail clearly. When you combine AMD’s loss of central vision with the blurriness from cataracts, you have a recipe for significant vision loss.

    Can you have cataract surgery to restore some clear vision if you have macular degeneration? The answer is probably yes ... but there are some factors your ophthalmologist will consider first.

    Which Condition Impacts Your Vision Most: Cataracts or Macular Degeneration?

    Before recommending cataract surgery, your ophthalmologist will want to find out whether most of your vision loss is caused by the cataract or by the AMD. Some people who have a lot of damage to their retina from macular degeneration won’t see much or any vision improvement from cataract surgery.

    Photograph of someone reading with a magnifying glass

    Your ophthalmologist will examine your retina and take photographs to assess its condition. They will also look at how cloudy your lens is to see how much the cataract affects your vision. And before recommending cataract surgery, your ophthalmologist will check your vision to see if a new eyeglass prescription or even low vision magnifiers may help you see better.

    Having cataract surgery with AMD may not restore your ability to do up-close tasks, such as reading. Removing the cataract will allow more light to enter the eye, but that may not be enough for good central vision. We need both a clear lens and a healthy retina for sharp vision.

    Does Having Cataract Surgery Make Macular Degeneration Worse?

    The AREDS2 study (or the Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2) evaluated participants with AMD for up to 10 years. The participants who had cataract surgery showed no increased risk of their AMD progressing or worsening versus those who did not. A more recent long-term study found that beyond 5 years there is an increased risk of progression of AMD. Because of this conflicting evidence, new research should help clarify any long-term effects of cataract surgery on AMD.

    As for those without AMD, there is no evidence that having cataract surgery will make you more likely to develop dry or wet AMD.

    Photograph of older couple reading together

    Is Cataract Surgery Right for Me?

    Studies have shown that cataract surgery can improve vision in those who are candidates for the procedure. But an informed decision is best made after discussing the risks and benefits of cataract surgery with your ophthalmologist.