National Cataract Awareness Month: Protect Your Vision This June

With June being National Cataract Awareness Month, we thought it would be fitting to talk about cataracts, what they are, who is affected, the symptoms, and treatments available. As one of the most common elective procedures in this country, cataract surgery is the primary treatment.

In fact, surgeons perform more than three million cataract surgeries in the United States and 20 million surgeries all around the world, says the Cleveland Clinic. Half of the people who live to their 90s will need cataract surgery at some point. If you are diagnosed with cataracts, it’s wise to schedule cataract surgery in Austin TX as soon as possible.

Cataracts: Defined

Cataracts are a condition in which the lens of the eye becomes cloudy or opaque, leading to a decrease in vision. The normally-clear lens helps focus light onto the retina, which is what allows you to see clearly. When a cataract develops, it starts to scatter light, making it a challenge to see sharply.

Cataracts, which can affect one or both eyes, can develop slowly. Most commonly associated with aging, they can also form due to injury, genetics, certain medications, or other medical conditions such as diabetes. Symptoms range from blurry vision and glare to difficulty seeing at night and faded colors. As alluded to above, cataracts can be treated with surgery to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with an artificial one.

Symptoms of Cataracts

At first, cataracts may affect only a small part of the eye’s lens, and you may not notice vision loss at all. As they grow larger, they cloud more of your lens, which changes the light passing through it. This is when you’ll start to see increasing symptoms.

Symptoms include:

Dim, clouded, or blurred vision
Sensitivity to glare and light
Trouble seeing in the nighttime
Seeing “halos” around lights
Need for brighter light for tasks like reading
Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescriptions
Double vision in one eye
Yellowing or fading of colors

How do you know when to see a doctor? If you notice changes in your vision, sudden eye pain or headache, double vision, or flashes of light, seek medical attention and make an appointment with your cataract surgeon in Austin.

Prevention

While developing cataracts is a typical part of aging, there are some things you can do to protect your eye health and slow the process:

Don’t smoke, as tobacco smoke raises your risk of cataracts.
Protect your eyes from the sun by wearing sunglasses or prescription eyeglasses with an anti-UV coating, and a hat with a brim.
Get regular eye care checkups. See your ophthalmologist on a regular basis for vision checkups. Be sure to tell them about any new or changing symptoms.

Treatment and Recovery

Cataract surgery is the primary form of treatment for cataracts. Here at Broberg Eye Care, cataract surgery is done only on one eye at a time, with a two- to four-week lapse between eyes. We specialize in traditional cataract surgery, which involves the use of hand-held instruments such as blades and forceps to make the incisions and remove the lens. While we prefer traditional cataract surgery, our doctors can have a discussion about using both traditional and laser assisted cataract surgery options.

After the procedure, which only takes about 10 minutes in the office, you will need to have someone drive you home. Due to the grogginess you may feel from surgery, you should rest for the remainder of the day. Before you leave the office, you will receive a protective shield to wear over your eyes for the first day and night.

You can expect your eyes to feel somewhat irritated, with slightly blurry vision. You may also be seeing halos or glare. Refrain from reading or watching television that first day, but feel free to resume normal activity the next. For one week or so after surgery, you may experience light sensitivity or irritation, which will go away.

Your doctor will prescribe special eye drops that you can apply on your own in the days following cataract surgery. There will be a follow-up appointment to ensure your recovery is progressing as it should.