Injuries to the eye from surgeries, falls, or other accidents can lead to the development of cataracts. If you have a family history of cataracts, you can be at a higher risk of developing them. Cataract surgery can be a good option to remove cloudiness in the eye and improve vision. Here are some warning signs that indicate you may have cataracts:
Blurry Vision
When cataracts develop, the lens of the eye becomes cloudy or blurry. The haziness impedes the passage of light through the lens and affects how the retina focuses on images. Vision could appear foggy or obscured, like looking through a frosted or dirty window.
The severity of cloudiness can vary among individuals and affect one or both eyes. In some cases, patients can experience intense haziness in bright sunlight or when exposed to glare from artificial lighting. If you have blurry vision, visit an ophthalmologist for proper diagnosis and treatment. They may recommend you undergo cataract surgery as a form of treatment.
Intolerance to Light
Sensitivity to light or photophobia is a typical symptom associated with cataracts. The clouded lens scatters light entering the eye, making it more difficult for the eyes to adapt to different light intensities. If you have cataracts, you may find that bright lights are intolerable or even painful to your eyes.
Some individuals with cataracts could experience enhanced sensitivity to specific wavelengths of light, such as blue light from LED fixtures and electronic screens. Moving from a dark space to a well-lit environment can lead to sensitivity to light. You may find yourself squinting, closing your eyes, or wearing glasses to control the light. Due to heightened light sensitivity, patients with cataracts often prefer dimmer lighting conditions for comfort.
Frequent Prescription Changes
The increased need for frequent changes in eyeglasses or contact lenses could be a sign of cataracts. Cataracts can affect your refractive error, which determines whether you are nearsighted, farsighted, or have astigmatism. As the cataract progresses, it can alter the shape of the lens, leading to changes in your refractive error, prompting you to get new eyeglasses or contacts to compensate for these transitions.
As the cataract advances, your vision can become blurred due to the clouded lens, requiring frequent eyeglasses or contact lens prescription adjustments. The eye condition can also affect your visual sharpness. If you have such issues, the clouded lens could be blocking light transmission and compromising the efficacy of your eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Double Vision
Double vision or diplopia is seeing two images as double with one eye open. With cataracts, the clouding affects the lens in a way that causes light to split or scatter as it passes through. This issue can result in the brain receiving two slightly different images from each eye, leading to the perception of double vision.
Double vision can present itself as monocular double vision, where the issue affects one eye only. The eye problem can also manifest as binocular double vision, which occurs when both eyes are open. Double vision can lead to patients seeing many images overlapping or piled on each other.
Book an Appointment for Cataract Surgery
If you have double vision, blurry vision, intolerance to light, or need to change glasses and contact lenses frequently, cataracts could be the problem. Cataract eye surgery can be a viable solution when symptoms worsen and affect your routine.
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During surgery, an optometrist can replace the clouded lens with an intraocular lens (IOL) to boost your vision. Monofocal IOLs provide vision correction at a single distance, while multifocal IOLs are for near, intermediate, and distance vision. Toric IOLs help rectify astigmatism and address other refractive errors. Seek the help of a professional eye surgeon if you are experiencing vision problems.
