Blog
Calendar Icon
Request an Appointment
LASIK Self-Test

If My Vision Is Blurry, Is It Cataracts?

One of the most common symptoms of cataracts is blurry vision. This is due to the natural lens of the eye becoming cloudy.

The cloudiness is the cataract and your vision will get worse as it develops. There are several key symptoms that serve as indicators of cataracts.

You should schedule an eye exam if you experience any of these symptoms or a sudden and dramatic loss of vision. You may need to undergo cataract surgery. Keep reading to learn more!

Blurry Vision

Cataracts impair your vision by causing the lens of the eye to become cloudy. The most common vision impairment symptom is blurry vision.

Blurry vision caused by cataracts will cause your vision to become “foggy.” Your vision will appear as if you are looking through a fogged-up window. This foggy vision will continue to grow in size and density as your cataract grows.

Halos at Night

Cataracts can make it hard for you to see at night. Many patients with cataracts experience halos around lights at night.

This could be the light on your porch, or the headlights of cars. These halos can make it hard for you to get around at night.

It is important that you do not try to drive if you are seeing halos at night. You should call your eye doctor as you will most likely need cataract surgery.

Vision Loss

Some cataract patients do not see halos at night or experience blurry vision. Cataracts can cause you to lose vision without any other visual symptoms.

Cataracts can cause total blank spots in your vision. These blank spots can come on gradually, or what seems like out of nowhere.

You will want to schedule a cataract consultation when you can no longer complete your daily routine due to vision loss.

Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery is the only way to remove cataracts from your eye. It is a simple, outpatient surgery. Most cataract surgeries take less than thirty minutes to complete.

You’ll be awake during cataract surgery. It’s not painful since you’ll receive numbing eye drops. If you’re nervous, you can ask for a sedative like Valium to help you relax.

During the procedure, your doctor will make a small incision on your eye. They will then remove the natural lens, and replace it with an artificial lens.

This artificial lens is called an intraocular lens (IOL). There are two kinds of IOLs to choose from: standard and premium.

Standard IOL

Standard IOLs will restore your vision that was lost due to cataracts. A standard IOL, known as a monofocal IOL, will only let you see at one distance. That means you’ll still need glasses or contacts to see at other distances, like intermediate or up close.

Premium IOL

A premium IOL will not only allow you to see clearly, it will also correct any refractive errors. This includes both nearsightedness and farsightedness.

You can even opt for a toric IOL which will correct astigmatism. A premium IOL will likely allow you to no longer need to wear glasses or contacts after cataract surgery!

Ready to leave cataracts in the past? The first step is a cataract screening. Schedule yours today with South Texas Eye Institute in San Antonio, TX!