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5 Signs It’s Time For Cataract Surgery

Are you starting to have cloudy or blurry vision? Do you find it difficult to drive at night? These are some of the signs that you might have cataracts.

It is possible to have cataracts and not need surgery. More commonly, many people do end up needing surgery. Keep reading for a few signs it may be time for cataract surgery!

What is a Cataract?

Cataracts occur when your eye’s lenses become cloudy when they are clear. When you have cataracts, looking through the lens is like looking through a dirty window.

If you have foggy vision from cataracts it can be difficult to drive at night. Cataracts also make it harder to complete detail-oriented tasks like reading.

Having cataracts is a very common eye condition that develops as people age.

Problems with Night Driving

Cataracts make it hard to differentiate between light and dark. Some people find that they get headaches from looking at headlights and streetlamps. They may also see halos around lights at night as well.

Color Discoloration

As cataracts grow, colors begin to look faded and discolored. For some, white starts looking more like yellow.

Vision Changes

Cataracts often grow slowly and do not affect your vision immediately. Over time, your vision will diminish due to cataracts.

It is necessary to get regular eye exams to diagnose and track your cataracts. Common vision changes include foggy, blurry, or faded vision.

In the beginning, cataracts start off tiny. As cataracts develop, they get bigger, and your vision starts to change and worsen.

Also, some individuals can develop a sensitivity to light due to cataracts. Some see glares and halos around lights.

By looking directly at a light you could see light radiating out of it like a halo. Typical light strengths could be too strong or too low for you now.

Another common symptom of cataracts is experiencing double vision in one of your eyes. As cataracts make your lens cloudy, that makes it more challenging for light to enter. This causes you to have double vision.

Frequent Changes in Glasses or Contact Lens Prescriptions

As your cataracts develop, your vision adjusts too. Your vision can go from not needing reading glasses to needing new prescriptions.

These sudden vision changes are a symptom of having cataracts. If you find that you need frequent prescription changes, see your eye doctor.

Requiring Stronger Light to Complete Activities

To see clearly, you might need stronger or increased light to get things done. Having more light can be helpful for reading or detail-oriented tasks.

Early on, increasing the amount of light might be helpful. As your cataracts develop and increase in size, it won’t solve the problem.

Are Cataracts Preventable?

Doctors recommend a few things when it comes to preventing cataracts. There’s no way to guarantee you won’t develop them, but you can reduce your risk of early development. Recommendations include:

  • wearing sunglasses
  • quitting smoking
  • managing other health conditions
  • having a healthy and balanced diet
  • drinking minimal amounts of alcohol
  • getting regular eye exams

If symptoms become unbearable or impact your daily life, consider cataract surgery. You deserve to live how you want to.

Are you ready to think about cataract surgery? Schedule a cataract screening at South Texas Eye Institute in San Antonio, TX today!