At some point in your life, a cataract may develop in one or both of your eyes and cause vision difficulties. This abnormal clouding of the eye lens can make vision appear blurry and interfere with reading, driving, and doing other things that you likely do in your daily life. Fortunately, cataracts are treatable, and an eye doctor can suggest treatment options that are designed to help you see clearly again.
Common Symptoms of Cataracts
Certain symptoms are often associated with cataracts, but vision problems or other sight difficulties might be the result of another eye condition that your eye doctor will want to diagnose and treat. In addition to visual blurriness, common cataracts symptoms include:
- Light sensitivity
- Double vision
- Decreased night vision
- The appearance of halos around lights
- Seeing a yellowish tent with all lighting
- A frequent need for stronger glasses or contacts
Even though some people may experience these symptoms occasionally because of eye fatigue, dryness, or other eye conditions, you shouldn’t hesitate to visit an eye center, somewhere like Sabates Eye Centers, where diagnostic testing can be done.
Possible Causes
Cataracts are more common among people who are more in their senior years, and age is known to be one of the main contributing factors since proteins in the eyes start to break down and clump together more as people get older. Lifestyle habits, such as smoking or drinking alcohol excessively, can also lead to the development of cataracts. Sun exposure is another known cause, and you’ll want to wear sunglasses as often as possible outdoors on sunny days to protect your eyes better. Other conditions, such as diabetes or glaucoma, can also increase your cataract risks.
Cataracts Treatment Options
Surgery is the most effective treatment for cataracts and can be done on an outpatient basis. During surgery, the surgeon will make a small incision along the side of the cornea and carefully remove the clouded lens with a device that breaks up the cataract before the remaining lens is suctioned from the eye. An artificial lens is then placed over the eye to replace the clouded lens that was removed. In many cases, the surgery can be completed in approximately 10 or so minutes, but more time may be needed if your case is more complicated.
Cataracts don’t have to be permanent, and you can get your vision back to what it once was with the right treatment. Talk to an eye doctor to learn more about treatment along with the symptoms of cataracts that you should know.
