Are you aging and wonder what cataracts are? Are you aware of the symptoms tied to cataracts?
It is important to know what a cataract is, as well as what the symptoms are. Here is what you should know about cataracts before you have them.
What Is A Cataract?
A cataract occurs when the lens in your eye becomes cloudy. Without cataracts, the lens is normally clear and easy to see through.
Many patients with cataracts say it’s like looking through a frosty window. As people get older, cataracts become a more common diagnosis.
If you have cataracts, you may not realize it at first. That’s because it can often take years or even decades for a cataract to develop! As a cataract does develop, you may notice the following symptoms:
Difficulty Driving At Night
Cataracts make it hard to distinguish the differences between light and dark. If you have a cataract, you may get headaches from headlights and street lamps while driving at night.
Also, some people with cataracts see halos around lights while driving at night.
Vision Changes
Usually, cataracts develop quite slowly over time. In most cases, you will not know that you have a cataract when it first starts developing.
Over time, your cataracts will grow and impact your vision. Common vision changes are having cloudy, blurry, or faded vision. Also, you can experience sensitivity to light.
Requiring More Light
One of the things that make cataracts challenging is the fact that they begin taking over the lens. This allows less and less light to pass through the lens.
If you need to complete tasks or activities that need a lot of focus, you might need more light. This can be helpful for things like reading or sewing.
Early on, having more light could be beneficial, but as cataracts grow, it won’t make a difference.
Discoloration Of Colors
If it looks like colors are dull or faded, you are not imagining it. This is another common symptom with cataracts.
You may also notice that things that were once white now look yellow.
Experiencing Frequent Changes In Prescriptions
With cataracts, you may notice that your vision changes a lot more than it used to. You may find that you need new prescriptions in a much shorter time than normal.
If you experience any of the above symptoms, it may be time to consider having cataract surgery. At the very least, you should consider having an eye exam.
After the age of 60, you should have an eye exam every year. This allows your eye doctor to keep an eye on what is going on with your eyes.
If you have cataracts or other eye conditions, it is much easier to diagnose and treat early on. Early treatment can mean preserving more of your vision in the long run.
Do you think you may have cataracts? Schedule a cataract screening at Omaha Eye & Laser Institute in Omaha, NE now!
