What Are the Symptoms of Cataracts & Who is a Candidate?
Cataracts, the condition that occurs when the natural lens of the eye becomes cloudy, occur because of a number of reasons, including genetics or an aging eye structure. The cloudy lens reduces the light and sharpness of the images that reach the retina of the eye. This lens clouding can become severe enough to cause concerning symptoms.
What are the symptoms of cataracts?
Cataracts cause a number of symptoms. Patients with cataracts usually suffer from the following concerns:
- Blurred vision: Cataracts can cause blurry vision, similar to how it is looking out a cloudy window.
- Poor night vision: Dark or dim lighting can cause a person with cataracts great difficulty in trying to see when compared to someone whose vision is not impaired. Cataracts also cause reading to be more difficult without a bright light shining on the page.
- Double vision: Seeing multiple things when there is only one is often a sign of cataracts.
- Increased nearsightedness: A worsening of nearsightedness that is causing you to have to increase your eyeglass prescription is a symptom of cataracts. This condition will continue to worsen over time.
- Light sensitivity: Cataracts can cause extreme sensitivity to light and can cause pain and difficulty in brightly-lit rooms or sunny outdoor spaces. Another symptom is a glare or halo.
- Faded colors: People with cataracts will see bright colors as faded or yellow
Who is a Candidate For Cataract Surgery?
Nearly anyone with cataracts who is experiencing the above symptoms is a candidate for cataract surgery. Cataract surgery is very safe and highly effective, boasting an outstanding success rate for patients. Patients who have had prior LASIK or other vision correction surgery are candidates for cataract surgery. Patient with ocular health considerations need a thorough exam by an experienced surgeon to evaluate candidacy for cataract surgery.
If you’re experiencing vision problems from cataracts, you don’t need to deal with it anymore. You are most likely an ideal candidate for highly effective cataract surgery.