Many older adults expect their vision to improve after cataract surgery, but some continue to experience blurred vision or distorted images. Taipei City Hospital reminds the public that if vision does not recover or continues to worsen after surgery, it may be related to age-related macular degeneration, which can lead to blindness in severe cases.

The hospital noted that some patients saw no improvement after cataract surgery, while others experienced a rapid decline in vision years later and were diagnosed with macular degeneration after examination.

As Taiwan's population ages, macular degeneration has become one of the major causes of vision impairment among older adults. Statistics show that about 9.2% of people aged 65 and above have early-stage macular degeneration, while the prevalence of late-stage disease is about 1.9%. Damage to the macula may cause reading difficulties, distorted vision, or visual field defects.

Doctors recommend reducing risk by eating foods rich in lutein and zeaxanthin, controlling blood pressure, and avoiding smoking. Exudative macular degeneration can currently be treated with anti-VEGF eye injections. Anyone who notices sudden vision decline or image distortion should seek medical attention promptly.