Recognizing the Symptoms
Blurry, Hazy, or Cloudy Vision – One of the first signs of cataracts is noticing that distant landscapes no longer appear sharp and clear. The lights that you used to see clearly at night now seem to have soft-edged halos. The clouding of the lens in your eye can make objects appear indistinct.
Difficulty Seeing in Dim Light or at Night – When you’re having a hard time focusing on words on a page, or you need a stronger source of light to read by, it might mean you’re developing cataracts. You may also not see clearly in low light or may struggle to make out shapes in a dark room. You may avoid driving at night because you can’t see well. These symptoms could indicate cataracts.
Treatment and Prevention
Undergo Cataract Surgery – There are no eye drops currently approved to “dissolve” or “prevent” cataracts. The only way to remove cataracts is by undergoing cataract surgery, which has a 90-95% success rate, with over 3 million cataract surgeries performed in the U.S. each year and over 20 million worldwide. Cataract surgery is one of the most common and reliable procedures in medicine, so if you think you have cataracts, visit your locally trusted eye center and undergo a professional eye exam to start the treatment process immediately.
Quit Smoking – As a preventive measure, we recommend that you stop smoking. It doesn’t matter when you start smoking; it can permanently damage your vision and increase your risk of developing cataracts. The more you smoke, the greater the risk of impairing your vision. Tobacco smoke is also an irritant that can worsen certain eye conditions such as dry eye, which is common in post-menopausal women.
Stay Healthy – Diabetes speeds up the process of developing cataracts. It can affect many parts of the body, especially in the small blood vessels of the eye. When blood sugar levels become unstable for long periods of time, they can affect the shape of the lens in your eyes and cause blurry vision. This eventually leads to clouded vision and the formation of cataracts. Try to exercise regularly and avoid immediate changes in blood sugar.
When you need new contact lenses or eyeglasses, make an appointment with Nova Vision Center. Call us at (703) 578-3600, or you can contact us through our convenient online form. We serve Falls Church, Arlington and neighboring VA areas.