3 Signs You Should Talk To Your Doctor About Cataract Surgery

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Posted by: Missouri Eye Institute in Blog on June 5, 2017

If you’re experiencing blurriness in one or both of your eyes, a sensitivity to light, unusual glares, and/or a decrease in night vision, there’s a possibility you may have a cataract.

A cataract is a medical condition in which a person’s eye lens progressively develops a cloudiness, resulting in blurred vision. Cataracts are typically experienced by patients over the age of 60 (although they can occur at any age) and are caused by a change in the eye lens’ proteins. While cataracts are common, it’s important to seek treatment when and if your cataracts begin to conflict with your everyday life. Here are some signs that it may be time to seek cataract surgery.

You’re unable to drive
For those with cataracts, vision impairment is common but is often not drastic enough to cause complications. However, if your cataracts have progressively worsened and you find yourself unable to drive on the road as you used to, it may be time to talk to you doctor. Additionally, if you’re suffering from blurred vision that differs from that of farsightedness or nearsightedness (which may be treated with LASIK or prescription eyewear), there may be a chance that your cataract may in fact be glaucoma, macular degeneration, or other undiagnosed conditions of the eyes.

You’ve had cataracts for a while
Those newly diagnosed with cataracts don’t typically undergo cataract surgery because the cataract is small and won’t impair the patient’s eyesight. However, if you’ve had cataracts for a while it may be time to talk to a surgeon at Missouri Eye Institute. The cataract, if it’s influencing your daily life, has most likely grown enough that our experienced cataract surgeons will be able to effectively remove the cataract and replace it with an artificial lens.

You can’t do daily activities
As is the case with other disorders, treatment may become necessary when a patient’s livelihood has become negatively influenced. If your cataracts have worsened to the point where you’re unable to read, knit, watch television, or do other activities you typically do in your day-to-day life, your cataracts may have progressed and a consultation with one of our cataract surgeons at Missouri Eye Institute could be needed.

Cataract surgery enjoys a 98% success rate, one of the highest surgical success rates in all of medicine. At the time of cataract surgery, the patient is mildly sedated or numbed. The cataract is then safely removed from the eye and replaced with an artificial lens. If your vision has been significantly impaired, discuss the possibility of cataract surgery with your local optometrist, or contact Missouri Eye Institute for more details.