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Coping With Cataracts

If you have cataracts, then you have noticed cloudiness in the clear lens of your eyes. It is different than what it feels like when dealing with conjunctivitis and with cataracts, you often will experience vision impairment of some varying degree. Many people who have cataracts have said that having them is like looking through foggy windows. Those suffering from cataracts often have impaired ability to see well when driving or reading as well as a plethora of other activities where their vision is necessary. If you don’t wish to cope with cataracts any longer, you should find ways of coping with this common health issue.

Cataracts normally develop slowly over the course of time which means that you may not notice the gradual affects on your vision. As time progresses, you will start noticing an increased amount of vision loss. Your vision will become increasingly distorted over a period of time as the cataracts on your eyes grow larger, clouding the lenses of your eyes. As a result, you may become more sensitive to light, have difficulty with your level of night vision, see fading or yellowing of colors and experience double vision.

Testing For Cataracts

If you think that you might be dealing with cataracts, then you are going to want to seek out the services of an eye doctor as soon as you possibly can. In order for your eye doctor to determine whether or not you have cataracts, he or she will need to perform some tests. When determining if you have cataracts, your doctor will perform an eye exam. To perform this retinal examination, your doctor will use dilating drops in order to see your retina in the back of your eye. Once your eyes are dilated, your doctor can figure out if you have cataracts.

If you feel that you may have cataracts, you may need to undergo a visual acuity test. It is a simple test that is done utilizing a chart and it will tell your doctor how well you can see letters on the chart provided. You will do well on this particular test if you have no issues with cataracts clouding your vision. If you perform poorly during this test, it could signal your doctor that you may be suffering from cataracts.

Options For Treating Cataracts

Unfortunately, there is really only one method of treating cataracts and that is a surgical solution. If your cataracts are bad and affect your quality of life, then you will definitely need to have surgery to correct this medical issue. Oftentimes, eye doctors will recommend surgery if your cataracts negatively affect your enjoyment of various activities like reading, watching television or driving. Your doctor may make the recommendation to have your cataracts removed in the event that you have trouble with your night vision or have issues reading. If the symptoms of cataracts aren’t affecting your quality of life in a negative way, your physician may suggest that you hold off on having surgery until the problem gets worse.

It is not always easy when trying to cope with having cataracts, but it is ultimately up to you and your eye doctor with regard to the course of action you pursue. In many cases, it won’t be an issue if you wish to delay having cataract surgery because cataracts don’t actually harm your eyes. Figuring out when you want to have cataract surgery won’t make a difference in whether or not your vision will improve as a result. You should always consider all of the risks and the benefits of having cataract surgery done before you make a decision on whether or not to proceed.