When you look at an object, certain processes occur in the eye to allow you to see it clearly. Light enters the eye through the pupil, focuses through the lens and onto the retina. A variety of eye conditions can occur along the way to decrease the clarity of your vision; one of those conditions is a cataract.
What Is A Cataract?
A cataract is the clouding of the normally clear lens. The eye’s lens is made of water and various proteins. With age, the proteins might begin clumping together, creating a cloudy spot on the lens -- a cataract -- which translates into vision problems. If you suspect you might have cataracts, a Dallas cataract surgeon can diagnose the problem and assess its severity.
Age is not the only cause for cataracts; they can also be attributed to family history, eye injury, eye diseases or previous eye surgery, medications such as excessive steroid use, or medical problems such as diabetes.
What Are Cataract Symptoms?
Age-related cataracts will typically develop slowly over time, so the symptoms might not be readily noticed. Some of the symptoms to look for include:
- Blurred, cloudy or dim vision
- Light sensitivity; glare in bright light
- Difficulty seeing at night or in low light
- Color distortion
- Seeing halos around lights
- Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescriptions
- Double vision with one eye
What To Do If Symptoms Occur
If you are noticing some symptoms of cataracts, or any vision problems, the best advice is to make an appointment with a qualified eye doctor. Only a thorough exam can determine whether cataracts are present.
An ophthalmologist can conduct a comprehensive, dilated eye exam -- meaning your pupil is widened with eye drops to enable a complete assessment of your eye health.
Once cataracts are diagnosed, the following steps are recommended:
- Have regular eye exams; yearly if older than 65, every two years if younger
- Protect your eyes by wearing sunglasses that block UV light
- Quit smoking, since it is a key risk factor
- Use brighter lights and even a magnifying glass for reading
- Limit night driving if halos or glare become problems
How Are Cataracts Treated?
The only proven treatment for cataracts is surgery. While there are several eyedrops and other so-called treatments that are advertised as removing cataracts, none of these has been proved to alleviate the condition. An experienced Dallas cataract surgeon can determine whether your case is advanced enough to require surgery.
Cataract surgery is usually considered as an option when the condition causes vision problems that interfere with daily activities. Since there is no way to remove the cloudiness of the lens, the lens will need to be removed during surgery. The natural lens is replaced with an artificial lens implant, called an intraocular lens (IOL). There are a few types of lens implants available. A Dallas cataract surgeon can advise you on which lens will best suit your needs.
If you are experiencing the symptoms of cataracts or have cataract questions, contact Carter Eye Center and make an appointment with Dr Harvey Carter, an experienced surgeon who uses cutting edge technology to help patients suffering from cataracts.
