Have you noticed that you see halos around lights at night? Have you needed frequent eyeglasses prescriptions within a short period of time?
These could be signs that you have cataracts. The concept of any kind of eye surgery can be nerve-wracking. Your eyes are an important part of your quality of life.
You want to be able to see clearly, but the thought of someone cutting into them is daunting. If you find out that you have cataracts, is surgery your only option for treatment?
Keep reading to learn more about cataracts and how to treat them!
What are Cataracts?
When you have cataracts, it causes your vision to become foggy or blurry. This happens because proteins in the lens break down and clump together.
Patients describe it as looking at the world through a cloudy or frost-covered window. Imagine trying to drive at night or sew with vision like that!
Also, cataracts can make your vision change frequently. They may even make it hard to see colors correctly!
Cataracts are very common as we age. About 26 million adults who are 40 and older have cataracts.
It is important to remember that even though you have cataracts, you do not need surgery immediately. Cataract surgery is only necessary when cataracts impact your vision.
The only way to effectively treat cataracts is with surgery. Using herbal supplements, drops, or any other medication that claims to dissolve cataracts does not work!
Early on, your cataracts will start off small and they will not usually affect your vision. Some small issues that might come up can be fixed with new prescriptions for your glasses or contacts.
But, as your cataracts get bigger, they will start to impact your vision more and more. When this starts to happen, it can be hard to see and take part in your normal activities.
Do I Need Cataract Surgery Immediately?
You do not need cataract surgery right away. In fact, most cataract surgeons will not operate if cataracts are still developing.
In the beginning, cataracts will not impact your vision, so things will be fine. For most patients, their cataracts will develop over a period of years or sometimes a decade. You may not even realize you have a cataract at first!
You can delay cataract surgery until cataracts start negatively affecting your life. If it feels like you can’t live your life the way you want to anymore, it may be time for surgery.
Cataracts can get in the way of even the simplest tasks like reading, cleaning, and cooking.
Is Cataract Surgery Safe?
One of the biggest concerns with cataract surgery is if the procedure is safe. Cataract surgery is a common and safe surgery.
Patients have a very high success rate, making it an incredibly safe procedure to undergo. During cataract surgery, your doctor will numb your eyes.
They will then make a small incision, remove your natural lens, and insert an artificial lens. This artificial lens is known as an IOL or intraocular lens. There are no stitches used during cataract surgery, making it easier to recover from.
Do you think that you have cataracts? Schedule a cataract screening at Stahl Eyecare Experts in Hauppauge, NY now!
