5 Warning Signs of Cataracts

Home » Blog » 5 Warning Signs of Cataracts

Posted by: Missouri Eye Institute in Blog on June 12, 2019

Is your vision starting to look blurry or foggy? Do you have issues driving at night or seeing people’s faces?

These are only a few of the common warning signs of cataracts! Keep reading to learn more about cataracts and what you can expect!

What is a Cataract?

Cataracts occur when the lens in your eye becomes cloudy. The lens of the eye is normally clear.

When you have cataracts, looking through a cloudy lens can be like looking through a foggy window. This makes driving, seeing facial expressions, and other activities more difficult.  Cataracts are a common eye condition that people experience as they age.

Vision Changes

Usually, cataracts develop over time and they do not affect your vision early on. But as time passes, cataracts start impacting your vision.

This is one of the many reasons why it is important to get regular eye exams. The number one vision change is cloudy, blurry or faint vision.

When cataracts start, they are small, but as they get bigger, they make your vision blurry.

You can also develop a sensitivity to light, glare, and halos around lights. Levels of lights that were once normal are now are too strong.

If you look at a light you could see light coming out of it that looks like a halo.

Also, you could experience double vision in one eye. When the lens in your eye becomes cloudy, it makes it harder for light to enter. This can cause double vision.

Difficulty Driving at Night

Cataracts make it difficult to differentiate between light and dark. You can get headaches from trying to drive at night from headlights and street lamps.

Also, you could see halos around headlights while you are driving. If you are having difficulty driving at night, stop! This is dangerous to yourself and others on the road.

Needing Stronger Light

For activities that need more focus, you may need brighter lights. This can be helpful for reading or other activities.

At the beginning, increased light is helpful. As your cataracts get worse, having increased light can become painful.

Color Discoloration

As your cataracts develop, colors start to fade and become murkier. White starts to become more like yellow. Everything you see may have a yellow or brown tint around it.

Quick Changes in Glasses or Contact Lens Prescriptions

As cataracts develop, your vision changes. You might not need your reading glasses or you may need more prescription changes. These are common signs that your lenses are changing.

Lead A Healthy Lifestyle To Avoid Early Cataract Development

There is no way to guarantee you’ll never have cataracts, but you can reduce the risk of early development. If you’re a smoker, quit!

If you’re concerned about cataracts, lead a healthy lifestyle. This includes eating well, exercising often, and not drinking a lot of alcohol.

You should also make sure you see your eye doctor on a regular basis for eye exams. Regular eye exams are your best weapon against vision loss because of cataracts!

If your vision problems start to impact your life, then it may be time for cataract surgery.

Do you think you have cataracts? Contact Missouri Eye Institute to schedule an appointment with us now!