Are you experiencing blurry or foggy vision? Do you see things floating through your vision or halos around lights?
Have you needed to change your glasses or contact lens prescription more than normal? These are all signs that you might have cataracts.
What is a Cataract?
When the lens in your eye becomes cloudy, it means you have a cataract. Cataracts form when proteins in the eye begin to clump together.
For people with cataracts, it’s like looking through a fogged-up or frosty window. Having foggy vision due to cataracts can make it hard to drive a car, read, or see facial expressions.
Cataracts are a very common eye condition that develops as people age.
Here are some signs that you may need cataract surgery.
Blurry Vision
Cataracts can cause blurry vision. This makes lights have a glare or halo and colors look duller.
If your doctor thinks you have a cataract, they’ll run a few tests. These include determining cataract thickness and results from glare, vision, and refraction exams.
A new prescription and pair of eyeglasses might solve issues for some patients. But they might not and deciding on the next step is up to the patient.
Impacts Your Quality of Life
When vision problems impact your life, and daily routine, surgery may be the best solution. Cataracts make driving at night more difficult.
This is because of glare from street lights and headlights. Blurry vision makes hobbies like cooking, watching television, reading, and sewing frustrating.
Patients might not want to get surgery until they feel it is necessary, but it is important to be safe on the road. If you don’t feel safe driving, it’s a good idea to stop.
Age-Related Vision Changes
It is difficult to tell if changes in your vision are from cataracts developing or are age-related. It usually takes years for cataracts to develop.
During your annual eye exam, your doctor can look for cataracts or other eye conditions. Until age 64, you should get eye exams every two years, and then they need to be annual for adults 65+. By age 80, half of all people will have cataracts.
Many Eye Conditions
Sometimes, a patient can have two eye conditions, including cataracts. This can make it harder to treat the second eye condition.
In these situations, your doctor can recommend cataract surgery to solve both problems. If you have cataracts, it becomes harder for your eye doctor to see the back of the eye.
Seeing the back of the eye is necessary when checking for conditions. In this case, it makes the most sense to have cataract surgery first.
Cataracts in Both Eyes
For patients with cataracts in both eyes, you’ll start with cataract surgery on the worse eye. Usually, the first surgery is successful, and patients may not want surgery on the other eye.
Yet, patients who have surgery on both eyes experience restored vision. Some improvements are being able to drive at night, read, and better depth perception.
Deciding to have cataract surgery can be stressful and scary, but the benefits make it worth it.
Do you think you have cataracts? Schedule a cataract screening at Chicago Cornea Consultants™ in Chicago, IL today! It’s time to get back on the path to seeing well!
