There are many things you cannot control as you grow older, including stiff joints, hearing loss, and receding hairlines. Cloudy vision should not be one of them. In fact, if you have blurry vision due to cataracts, it can easily be fixed with cataract eye surgery.
What are cataracts?
Cataracts happen when the lens inside your eye becomes cloudy. It is a painless occurrence that happens slowly over time. As the lens becomes cloudier, less and less light can pass through the lens making it more and more difficult to see. Left untreated, cataracts can lead to blindness.
What are the symptoms of cataracts?
The most common sign of the presence of cataracts is blurry or cloudy vision. You may also experience double vision and sensitivity to both light and glare, such as with night driving. Occasionally, patients with cataracts report a change in color perception. Blue and purple become harder to notice and their vision takes on a brownish or yellowish tinge overall.
In advanced cases, the cataract can become visible to others as well when it starts to affect the appearance of your iris.
Who gets cataracts?
Typically, cataracts affect people over the age of 60. It is possible for younger patients to exhibit signs of cataracts, however, due to exposure to ultraviolet rays (UV), a tumor, or some illnesses.
What is the main cause of cataracts?
There are many causes of cataracts. While there does seem to be a genetic connection for cataracts, you can also get them from smoking, heavy alcohol consumption, and extended exposure to UV rays or radiation. Previous eye injuries can also lead to future cataracts.
The most common segment of the population that is susceptible to cataracts is patients with both Type I and Type II diabetes. Excess blood sugar is known to directly cause cataracts.
What is cataract surgery?
Cataract surgery is a simple but amazing surgery. Your natural lens is removed and replaced with an artificial one in a quick, outpatient procedure.
Does cataract surgery give you perfect vision?
Cataract surgery will not give you perfect vision. It can, however, repair the cloudiness and color perception giving you a better quality of life.
What do you need to do after cataract surgery?
After surgery, your eyes may be itchy and sensitive to light. It can take eight weeks or more to recover from the surgery, during which time you should wear proper eye protection and a hat. This will keep the sun off your face and out of your eyes. If you wore glasses pre-surgery, you will probably need to see your doctor in order to check for changes to your prescription.
Over ten million people have cataract surgery each year worldwide because it is safe and effective. Talk to your doctor today about your options.
Share26 January 2021
After watching my mother navigate treatment for breast cancer in my early teens, I knew pretty much what to expect from my dad's diagnosis with prostate cancer. What I didn't know was how different chemotherapy and radiation can affect different people. My mother became very ill while my dad seemed to weather the treatments with few ill effects. I spent a long time researching the differences in treatments, types of chemotherapy, and how each one can react differently with the body. I created this blog to help others understand the same things, because I knew I couldn't be the only one unfamiliar with it. I hope it helps you if someone you love is facing treatment for any type of cancer.
