Are You Suffering from the Warning Signs of Cataracts?

November 26th, 2019

Cataracts occur as a natural part of aging. It is, in most cases, a very gradual process that subtly affects your vision.

Contrary to what some may believe, cataracts do not only make it harder to see in one way. There is actually a wide range of symptoms that you can attribute to cataracts. Keep reading for some of the warning signs of cataracts to watch out for!

Blurry Vision

The most obvious symptom associated with cataracts is vision loss. Cataracts cause the lens inside your eye to become more and more opaque, which blocks light from entering.

This happens due to proteins inside the lens breaking down and clumping together. Normally, these proteins are arranged in such a way that light passes right through them.

When light can no longer pass through uninterrupted, then light won’t reach the retina. Without this light, it is impossible for the eye to produce images.

Light focusing on the retina is how the eye sees images. For those with cataracts, this results in blurry vision.

Poor Night Vision

Your decline in eyesight will be most noticeable in low light situations. When you have a cataract, it blocks out almost all the light that should reach the retina.

This, in turn, blocks out most of your ability to see. A common symptom of having a cataract is poor night vision.

This often becomes most apparent if it becomes more difficult to drive at night. You may also find yourself turning on more lights at night to see.

Halos

While you are driving at night, you may experience another phenomenon called halos. Halos look like rings of light around lights like street lamps or headlights.

These rings can be distracting. When paired with your already poor vision it can actually be dangerous to drive. If you feel unsafe driving at any point, don’t.

Light Sensitivity

Cataracts do not form the same way. A typical cataract forms in the center of the lens.

Sometimes, cataracts grow on the periphery of the lens. Wedge-like clefts that point inwards begin to form around these cataracts.

This type, called a cortical cataract, causes light to become scattered inside of the eye. Light bouncing around inside the eye and not being focused onto the retina can cause painful glare and sensitivity.

Second Sight

Typical cataracts that form in the center of the lens are called nuclear sclerotic cataracts. With these, your near vision may appear to improve, at least temporarily.

You may even find that you no longer need your reading glasses. This occurs because this kind of cataract may cause your lens to bulge as they grow.

As the lens bulges, it causes the lens to focus the light differently. But this symptom does not last long. As the lens begins to cloud over, you will inevitably lose your sight and it will continue to worsen.

Color Changes

Cataracts are, of course, not colorless. They actually tend to take on a yellowish hue. This yellowish hue can transfer over to any light that manages to pass through the lens.

This gives an ugly yellow hue to everything you look at, and normal colors may seem faded or dull.

None of these symptoms are any fun, but they do point to one thing: that it’s time to get cataract surgery.

Wondering if you should get cataract surgery? Schedule a cataract screening at the Laser Eye Center with Dr. Danny Lee in Huntsville, AL now!

It’s time to find out if cataract surgery is in your future, along with beautiful, clear vision!