Cataracts Don’t Have To Change The World

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in the world today. Many individuals in developing countries don’t have access to treatment options available elsewhere. Even after years of growth, the densest cataracts are often still treatable through surgery. Rarely do cataracts on their own cause irreparable damage to the eye, and surgery is seldom considered necessary.

You can wait, but your vision won’t

Here in the United States, cataract surgery is a standard procedure performed on cataracts of any size. Although cataract removal is not typically a necessary procedure, the disease can cause symptoms that inhibit daily life. Some or all of the following common cataract symptoms can have a profoundly negative impact on quality of life. These issues will prevail until cataract surgery is performed.

Hobbies are no longer fun

A big motivator for cataract surgery is blurry vision. Living life in a haze can create difficulty remaining independent. Having hazy sight may lead to misunderstandings, injury, or the inability to perform tasks. Hobbies and other activities may no longer be an option until cataracts are removed.

I can’t see clearly now

Cataracts often rob patients of close up sight, even with reading glasses on. The blurring of near vision leads to a number of problems. Patients often have to say goodbye to reading books, ingredients, or even tickers on TV until cataracts are taken care of.

Fade to gray (or brown or yellow)

A big indicator of cataracts is the loss of bright colors in vision. When cataracts emerge, sight can turn brown, yellow, or gray, depending on the color of the cataract. Such a change affects the ability to distinguish colors and perceive contrasts.

Double isn’t always better

Cataracts can bend light in such a way that two images are projected onto the back of the eye. This double vision tricks the brain into seeing two of the same thing in slightly different locations. Those images may or may not appear in the right place.

Blinding lights

Believe it or not, cataracts can actually intensify light coming from the sun or artificial sources. Even looking in the direction of a light can cause pain and a blinding effect. This also applies to driving in nighttime conditions with headlights.

Too much change

A pair of prescription glasses should last somewhere between one to three years. As cataracts often fluctuate, the eye’s ability to see changes also. These variations may result in frequent adjustments to a pair of glasses.

Can cataract surgery ever be a necessity?

Having cataract surgery performed before vision gets too poor is a wise decision. That being said, there are a few instances where an eye surgeon will necessitate cataract surgery due to other eye conditions. The most common examples of this involve glaucoma and diseases in the back of the eye. During cataract formation, the lens can grow in size and put pressure on other parts of the eye, causing glaucoma. Removing a cataractous lens can help bring eye pressure back to normal. Cataracts can also block an eye specialist’s view to the back of the eye to monitor issues there. In these situations, a doctor may require cataract surgery to keep an eye on things.