How high are cataract surgery expectations?

We can do wonders these days with cataract surgery. In the right patients, implantation of certain lenses can make them almost completely glasses free. (It is important to note that this cannot be done for ALL patients). However, I think that we have gotten to the point where the expectations for insurance-covered surgery need to be managed. I think that patients should expect that their eye surgeon will do everything in his/her power to do the best job possible for a patient. However, even with the best formulas to predict implant power and the best surgery technique, the rate of cataract surgery that “hits the target” (using the standard of less than 0.5 Diopter error from the goal) is around 80% for insurance covered procedures. So, we can do our best, and our best might not quite get to the target even if everything goes perfectly. Therefore, I think it is important to remember the following: cataracts are a blinding disease if allowed to grow unchecked, and cataract surgery is the only cure for that blinding disease.