Are There More Serious Signs of Cataracts?
Have you noticed halos around lights when you drive at night? Have you been experiencing double vision?
These are signs that you could be developing cataracts. Cataracts are an almost unavoidable part of the aging process.
By the age of 80 years old, at least half of most people will have had or already have cataracts. When figuring out if you have cataracts or not, it is important to understand the symptoms.
Let’s learn more about cataracts, their symptoms, and if there are more serious signs of cataracts you should watch out for!
What are cataracts?
Cataracts occur when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy and difficult to see through. Without cataracts, the lens is clear and won’t impede your vision.
Patients with cataracts often say it’s like looking at the world through a dirty window. Having cataracts can make it harder to drive at night or complete detail-oriented tasks.
What are the symptoms of cataracts?
There are many symptoms associated with cataracts. They can include:
Colors Look Faded:
As your cataracts get bigger, they may start making colors look different. This may result in colors looking faded, discolored, or just off.
You may notice that something neon will look pastel or something that you know is white looks yellow.
Trouble Driving at Night:
Cataracts make it hard to tell the difference between light and dark. Some patients with cataracts may get headaches when they look at headlights and street lamps.
You may also see halos around lights at night. The combination of these vision problems makes driving at night difficult.
Frequent Prescription Changes:
When cataracts develop, your vision will change too. Your vision may result in getting much worse very quickly.
If you experience sudden vision changes, this is a common sign of cataracts. You may need to get new glasses or contact lenses much more often to accommodate for this.
Vision Changes:
When cataracts are in their early stages, they are small, develop slowly, and do not impact your vision. But, as time passes, your cataracts will mature and get larger.
The best way to diagnose and monitor your cataracts is to get frequent eye exams. Some of the vision changes you might experience are foggy, blurry, or faded vision.
Cataracts can also cause vision loss, which is the most serious side effect of them. Your vision loss will be temporary and should go back to normal after having cataract surgery.
Other vision problems may include developing a sensitivity to light due to cataracts. Another symptom tied to cataracts is developing double vision in one or both of your eyes.
Cataracts cause the lens in your eyes to become cloudy, which makes it more difficult for light to enter. This causes patients to develop double vision.
Do any of these symptoms sound familiar? If so, you might have cataracts.
Schedule a cataract screening at Complete EyeCare West in Columbus, OH with one of our talented ophthalmologists!
There’s no need to keep going through life dealing with cataracts. It may be time for you to have cataract surgery and you don’t even know it!
