Seeing The Signs: When To Treat Cataracts

If you have noticed a sensitivity to bright lights or difficulty seeing at night, you may be experiencing the early signs of cataracts. Cataracts, unlike other conditions, are usually a gradual decline in vision. This means that you will not notice how much you are not seeing until the cataracts become advanced. As you gradually get used to seeing less, you begin to lose interest in activities that once brought you joy.

While this may be scary, there is good news. Cataracts are not only a natural occurrence in our lives, but they can be easily removed.

What Are Cataracts And How Do You Treat Them?

As you age, proteins begin to build up and clump together in the eye’s lens, preventing light from passing clearly through the lens and obscuring vision. These protein deposits are known as cataracts and are a normal part of the aging process. When a cataract has progressed to the point that it is interfering with normal, everyday functions, such as driving or reading, surgery is often the recommended course of action.

Treating your cataracts can get you back to doing the things you love. Cataract surgery involves removing the lens of the eye and replacing it with an artificial lens. There are multiple surgical options to enhance your near or far vision, including special lenses that can often give you a range of vision beyond what it was before the cataracts formed. Approximately 90% of cataract surgery patients report better vision following the surgery.

Why Treat Cataracts Now?

The clearer vision associated with cataract surgery provides many quality-of-life benefits including better near and distant vision, making colors brighter and making it easier to read, work on a computer, watch TV, and even drive. Additionally, many studies show that people over the age of 65 who received timely surgery for cataracts in both eyes not only increased their visual acuity but also minimized their risk of falls and injuries related to falls. This is because with a cataract, the lens of the eye becomes progressively opaque, which can significantly interfere with vision and depth perception.

Vision changes caused by cataracts may become more noticeable during the winter months. Dim lighting caused by late sunrise and early sunset can make vision changes from cataracts more noticeable. Also, poor weather tends to cause glare and blur from cataracts to be more bothersome. Taking care of cataract surgery prior to the winter season will help you avoid these worsening conditions for untreated cataracts.

So, believe it or not, it’s already time to schedule your surgery appointments prior to the holidays. If you treat yourself now, you won’t have to worry about squeezing in a much-needed appointment later, and you’ll be able to fully connect with the ones you love before the new year.

Want to get winter-ready? Call Anne Arundel Eye Center at 410-224-2010 and let the staff help you restore your vision. The center is dedicated to making the best eye care accessible to everyone.

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