4 Signs It May Be Time For Cataract Surgery

To find out if your vision problems are due to cataracts, you need to attend a cataract screening. Cataracts are a very prevalent problem that will eventually affect everyone.

Cataracts are a natural part of the aging process. As they are so common, they are also very easy to deal with.

Cataract surgery is a safe and effective procedure that has an amazing success rate. Although the only way to treat cataracts is with surgery, you may not need it right away.

This is because cataracts progress at a very slow rate. Surgeons will often wait until cataracts impede your daily life before performing surgery.

Just because cataract surgery is safe does not mean it carries no risk at all. It is usually better to put that risk off until you need to face it.

Cataract symptoms vary, but they generally show up slowly over time. Keep reading for some of the more common signs to look out for!

Difficulty Seeing

Of course, the most common cataract symptom is experiencing blurry vision. This is because cataracts grow in the lens of the eye, slowly making the lens more opaque.

As proteins in the lens break down, they begin clumping together and block out light.This makes it harder and harder to see as the cataract develops.

This is especially noticeable at night when light is already scarce. If you are having difficulty seeing at night, it’s likely time to have your cataracts removed.

Glare

Another common symptom with cataracts is glare. With cataracts, you may experience light scattering around inside your eyes.

This can cause the light to bounce around, resulting in glare. This symptom is seen most with cortical cataracts.

Cortical cataracts grow around the perimeter of the lens and form clefts that point toward the center of the lens. Cortical cataracts are less common than nuclear sclerotic cataracts.

Nuclear sclerotic cataracts grow from the center of the cataract outwards.

Double Vision

A less common symptom of cataracts is seeing several images of whatever it is that you are focusing on. Known as double vision, this can be extremely disorienting and dangerous to live with.

You should have your cataracts removed as soon as possible if you have double vision.

Blurry Vision

With blurry vision, many patients describe it as looking through a frosty window. Cataracts often develop as early as your forties or fifties, even if you don’t realize you have them.

When you have blurry vision because of cataracts, it makes completing activities difficult. This can include sewing, texting, reading price tags, or seeing facial expressions.

It can even make household chores like cooking more difficult to complete or make them dangerous. As a cataract develops, blurry vision will only get worse over time.

When you need cataract surgery, you may be unable to see anything at all. If you feel unsafe, this is the right time to consider cataract surgery.

Wondering if you could be ready for cataract surgery? Schedule a cataract screening at Premier Eye Care of Eastern Idaho in Idaho Falls, ID!