Should You Consider Cataract Treatment? What You Need to Know
A cataract is a medical condition where your eyes gradually become cloudy. You don’t suddenly wake up with it. Rather, it progresses over time, clouding your natural eye lenses so that you start to feel like you’re looking at the world through a cloudy window.
Cataracts are brought on by protein breakdown in the lens and are typically linked to aging. But in some cases, they can happen due to genetics, some diseases like diabetes, excessive UV exposure, eye injuries, and even specific drugs.
Now, if you suspect you may be struggling with cataracts, should you consider getting cataracts treatment Rochester? Here are some things to know first:
Common Symptoms of Cataracts
Now, we’ve mentioned cloudy or blurred vision as a sign of cataracts. But it’s not the only symptom. Other signs that may point to a problem include the following:
- Difficulty seeing at night
- Requiring brighter light to read or do other things
- Sensitivity to glare and light
- Seeing faded or yellowish color
- Double vision in one or both eyes
- Seeing halos around bulbs, lamps, candles, or other light sources
Cataracts Require Diagnosis
Observing the signs alone doesn’t automatically mean you have cataracts. You need a medical diagnosis from an ophthalmologist to be sure. Usually, cataracts can be detected using different tests. These include:
- Visual acuity test: This assesses how well you can see, on each eye, using a wall chart of symbols and letters, usually of different fonts.
- Retinal exam: the eye doctor uses some eye drops to dilate your pupils and examines the back of the eye using a microscope or ophthalmoscope.
- Slit-lamp examination: the ophthalmologist examines the structure of your eye through a special microscope to detect even the tiniest abnormalities.
- Applanation tonometry: this test detects issues in your eyes by assessing the pressure of eye fluids.
Surgery is Required to Remove Cataracts
Treatment for cataracts is usually by surgery. This procedure removes the cloudy lens and replaces them with a clear artificial lens thereby restoring your vision. Once the procedure is done, the lens becomes a permanent part of your eyes.
The procedure is outpatient, meaning you go home once it’s done. Also, you stay awake during the surgery. But the area is typically numbed, so you don’t feel any pain. Cataract surgery is considered safe, with few, if any, risks. However, your doctor should be able to tell you about any potential risks, based on your medical history and health. After discussing the safety of cataract surgery, your doctor can provide recommendations for the best laser eye surgeon to ensure optimal post-operative care and outcomes.
So, Should You Have Cataract Surgery?
Consider booking surgery if you:
- Struggle to do up-close tasks like reading, texting, using your phone, etc.
- Find that you no longer enjoy your hobbies because of poor vision
- See everything in brown or yellow colors
- Can’t drive at night anymore
- Keep needing new eye prescription
- Have started experiencing double vision
- Your vision is cloudier than usual or has led to personal injuries like falls
- Feel sudden pain when suddenly exposed to bright light
Reclaim Your Life with Cataracts Treatment Rochester
Cataracts can no doubt ruin the quality of your life. Not forgetting they can expose you to more dangers, such as accidents and falls, which can lead to injuries. If you’ve noticed that you struggle to see a lot more now, consult a specialized eye doctor to talk about surgery.