At Eye Medical Clinic, we want our patients to enjoy their best possible vision at every stage of life. June is Cataract Awareness Month, so we’re taking this opportunity to educate our senior patient family about the risk factors and symptoms of cataracts. We will cover how you know you have cataracts, when you should see your doctor and when is the best time to have cataract surgery.
What is a Cataract?
Starting with the basics, a cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens that most often happens slowly as you age. This cloudiness is progressive and it blocks and distorts light passing through the eye, making your vision cloudy and blurry. Over time, the cataract will grow larger and cloud more of the lens. Your vision will continue to diminish until you have the cataracts removed.
How Common Are Cataracts?
Cataracts are a leading cause of blindness among older Americans. The most recent statistics provided by Prevent Blindness America show that cataracts affect more than 25 million people in the U.S. aged 40 and older. And more than half of all Americans will have cataracts by the time they are 80 years old.
What are the Symptoms of Cataracts?
Symptoms can vary from person to person depending on the degree of cataract progression, and not every person will experience every symptom, but there are a few common symptoms and they include:
- Glare or halos from headlights, lamps or sunlight
- Poor night vision, especially when driving
- Cloudy or blurry vision
- Colors appear dull or yellowish
- Frequent prescription changes in eyeglasses or contacts
- Difficulty reading in low light
- Sensitivity to light and glare
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, please schedule a cataract evaluation with one of our experienced eye doctors, because they could be signs of cataract development. It’s important to be evaluated by a trained eye doctor because many of these same symptoms could also be signs of other eye problems.
When Should I Have Cataract Surgery?
Are you struggling to drive confidently? Are you worried about falling because you can’t see as well as you used to? When cataracts begin to affect your everyday life in a negative way, that’s when it is time to see your doctor about having your cataracts removed.
If you are no longer able to enjoy the things you love, like playing golf or pickleball, reading, traveling or crafting, we would love to perform a cataract evaluation for you. Additionally, yearly eye exams allow us to follow and monitor the cataracts. And they are helpful in determining when to start talking about cataract surgery. Take our helpful cataract self-evaluation to help determine if it’s time to see us about your cataracts.
If our experienced clinical team determines that you or your loved one is dealing with cataracts, you have nothing to fear. From diagnosis to surgery to post-op care, we will work with you every step of your journey.
Upgrade Your Vision with an Advanced Technology Lens
Major advances in the field of ophthalmology allow people just like you to continue to live life the way they want to live it after cataract surgery. Although standard cataract surgery has been proven very successful at removing the cataract and replacing the eye’s natural lens with a clear lens, many people find they still need glasses, bifocals or multifocals in order to achieve their best vision. Compared to standard intraocular lenses (IOLs), Advanced Technology Lenses greatly reduce or even eliminate the need for glasses after your cataract surgery procedure.
Your comprehensive cataract evaluation will tell us everything we need to know about your unique ocular situation and which lenses you may be a good candidate for.
See Every Moment
We invite you to experience the VIP treatment every patient can expect to receive at Eye Medical Clinic. Our team of experienced doctors John Sullivan, MD; Jeanie Paik, MD; Tamer Hadi, MD; and Christina Nguyen Deane, OD, as well as a highly trained staff, is dedicated to helping you enjoy your life to the fullest…with the clear vision you deserve. Schedule your comprehensive cataract evaluation today.
