How Do You Know If You Have Cataracts?

Cataracts are one of the most common eye conditions that tend to affect most people as they age. Indeed, the World Health Organization says that by the age of 80, virtually everyone will either have them or have had them removed.

In most cases, they’re not normally an issue in earlier life—mainly forming after the age of 50. So what are the symptoms? When do you need to worry about them and how do you go about getting them fixed?

Read on to discover everything you ever wanted to ask about cataracts.

Cataracts: Symptoms, Treatment, and Surgery 

• Cataract symptoms
• Cataract treatment
• Finding cataract surgery near me

Cataract symptoms

Cataracts evolve very slowly over several years. Because of this, a cataract can be fairly well-formed before any symptoms begin to show. Because of this, you may not even notice the gradual decline in eyesight until it becomes significant.

When symptoms do begin the show, they include the following:

• Fading or yellowing of colors
• Poor nighttime vision
• Seeing halos around light sources
• Sensitivity to glare or bright lights
• Blurred vision
• An unstable prescription

By the time these are noticeable, the cataract or cataracts (in the case of both eyes) have already advanced quite considerably. That’s why it’s so important for those over the age of 45 to undergo regular eye exams that include checking for and diagnosing the condition. 

For many people, the first they know about having cataracts is when they’re picked during one of these routine checkups.

Cataract treatment

Thankfully, cataracts are easily treated. This is done by a simple surgical procedure that breaks down the diseased lens and replaces it with an artificial one. This replacement lens is called an intraocular lens, or IOL.

This commonly performed procedure takes around 20 minutes to perform and is done in the eye surgeon’s office. Your eye will be numbed so you don’t feel a thing, you’ll remain awake throughout, and return home the same day.

There are two types of treatment—traditional and laser cataract surgery. The former involves the surgeon making a manual incision with a scalpel to access the lens of the eye. This will then be fragmented, using either sound waves or a laser, suctioned out and replaced with an IOL. The latter surgical procedure involves digital mapping of the eye’s anatomy, the incision made by laser, and ultra-precise fitting of the new lens.

The advantage of laser surgery is that the high level of accuracy allows for more advanced, premium IOLs to be used. In addition, concurrent treatment of astigmatism can also be carried out.

Finding cataract surgery near me

Finding the best cataract surgeon isn’t as simple as Googling “cataract surgery near me”, although this is a good starting point. The service that will best suit your needs will be determined by many factors. These include: 

• The type of lens you require
• Whether your surgery is covered by Medicare or other insurance
• Any other health/eye conditions you have that might demand a more specialist approach
• Your age. While it’s most usual for cataracts to affect those over the age of 45, there are instances when they can occur younger. This includes childhood cataracts, eye trauma, the use of certain medications, and other genetic reasons.

The Best Treatment at the World-Renowned Clinic, Modern Cataract Surgery 

At Modern Cataract Surgery, we’re dedicated to the provision of the ultimate in surgical cataract treatment. Whether you require traditional surgery or cutting-edge laser cataract surgery and advanced IOLs, you can rest assured that you’re in the very best hands.

The team is headed by global name, Dr. Brent Bellotte, who’s dedicated his life to the advancement of cataract treatment. 

Find out more at (services/cataract-symptoms) and get in touch today to book an appointment.