Posted by: The Eye Intitute of West Florida in Cataract Surgery
What are Cataract Symptoms?
What are Cataracts?
Cataracts are a common eye condition affecting millions of people around the globe. As we age, the likelihood of developing cataracts grows, making it essential to understand the early signs and symptoms. In this article, The Eye Institute of West Florida dives into the critical symptoms to watch out for and how you can treat cataracts to help you better understand your eye health.
Symptoms of Cataracts
Our eyes are normally clear, but when affected by cataracts, the lens of the eye is clouded. This clouding can appear in various symptoms that typically develop slowly and differ in severity. Understanding these symptoms is vital when deciding whether to schedule an appointment with your eye doctor. The main symptoms of cataracts include:
Cloudy or Blurry Vision
One of the earliest and most prominent signs of cataracts is a gradual decrease in vision clarity, most commonly manifesting as cloudy or blurry vision. Initially, the effect may be mild, making it challenging to see fine details or read small print but not significantly impacting your overall vision. However, over time this blurriness can increase, making everyday activities more and more difficult.
Problems with Night Vision
Cataracts can significantly impact your night vision. You may notice a heightened glare from oncoming headlights or become more easily disoriented by bright lights in dark environments. This is due to the scattering of light caused by the clouded lens in your eye, leading to discomfort and making night-time activities, like driving, more dangerous.
Glare and Light Sensitivity
Photophobia, or an increased sensitivity to bright lights and glare, is a common symptom of cataracts. Exposure to bright sunlight, headlights, or intense indoor lighting can be uncomfortable, leading to squinting and shielding eyes. This sensitivity, while seemingly innocuous, can be a major inconvenience and can impact your daily routine.
Halos Around Lights
When you have cataracts, the clouding on the lens can cause the light that enters the eye to scatter in different directions, leading to the perception of halos or rings around light sources. Halos are particularly noticeable in low-light settings. For example, streetlights or car headlights at night may seem to be surrounded by circles of light, which can be disorienting and potentially dangerous.
Double Vision
People with cataracts often experience double vision, where a single object appears as two overlapping images. While closing one eye can temporarily fix this issue, it doesn’t address the underlying condition. Consistent double vision can lead to additional complications, such as headaches, that can impact your daily activities.
What to Expect from Cataract Surgery
Cataract surgery may seem daunting at first glance, but it is a standard and safe procedure completed an estimated 20 million times annually, making it one of the most frequently performed surgeries worldwide. As you prepare for cataract surgery, here’s what you can expect during the process:
- A small incision is made. The main goal of the surgery is to remove the cloudy natural lens affected by the cataract through a precise incision. This incision is small enough that it often requires no stitches and heals quickly on its own.
- The affected lens is replaced. Once the clouded lens is removed, it is replaced with a new, clear artificial lens known as an intraocular lens (IOL). The IOL is designed to restore clarity to your vision and is a permanent part of your eye.
- The procedure is efficient and painless. One of the most remarkable aspects of cataract surgery is its efficiency. The entire procedure typically takes about 10 minutes to complete and is normally performed under local anesthesia, so you won’t feel any pain.
It’s important to follow your surgeon’s instructions post-surgery to ensure the best possible outcome. Luckily, most patients can return to their normal activities shortly after the surgery with clearer vision.
Cataract Surgery Recovery
After the procedure, most patients found that they could return to their daily routines within one to two days. However, during the recovery period, it’s critical to follow the post-surgery care instructions provided by your doctor. This can include using eye drops to prevent infection and inflammation, wearing protective eyewear, and avoiding certain activities that could strain your eyes.
The good news is that only one eye is operated on at a time, with a gap of a few weeks between surgeries. This approach gives the first eye ample time to heal before the second procedure and ensures that you have a smoother, more comfortable recovery. By treating one eye at a time, you can maintain some level of normalcy in your vision during the recovery process.
Financing Cataract Surgery
At The Eye Institute of West Florida, we understand that cataract surgery is a significant investment, which is why we strive to make it accessible and affordable to all patients. Your Eye Institute of West Florida location accepts Health Savings Accounts (HSAs) and Flexible Spending Accounts (FSAs), allowing you to use pre-tax dollars to pay for your cataract surgery. Plus, cataract surgery is recognized as a qualified healthcare expense, meaning that any costs associated with the procedure can be covered using your HSA or FSA funds.
If you’re exploring other financing and payment options, we’re here to help. To learn more about our options and find the best solution for you, connect with The Eye Institute of West Florida.