Have you noticed a change in your vision or have vision that has become blurry with colors that look faded? If you answered yes, you may have cataracts. Cataracts are common in individuals over the age of 50. Thankfully, cataract surgery can restore your vision.
Signs You Have Cataracts
Cataracts are extremely common in older individuals. They occur when proteins build up on the lens of the eye, causing cloudy or blurry vision. In the early stages, the cataracts may not be visible in a mirror, but as they mature, you may see white spots or spots that look cloudy when you look at your eyes.
- You see glare or halos around lights, especially at night.
- You are having increasing difficulty seeing at night when you drive.
- You can no longer see well enough to read or watch TV.
- Colors appear faded and/or you have noticed blurry vision.
Good Candidates for Cataract Surgery
Good candidates for cataract surgery include individuals who have been told via a routine eye examination that they have cataracts and are experiencing significant vision loss due to the clouding of the lens of the eye. Most people do not start developing cataracts until after the age of 40, but cataracts can develop at any age. Some babies are even born with cataracts.
Treating Early Cataracts
If your vision isn’t significantly impaired, it may be a good idea to wait for cataract removal surgery. During this time glasses and/or contacts can help improve your vision. However, when corrective lenses no longer offer the desired amount of vision correction, Dr. Tuminello typically recommends surgery to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with an artificial lens.
Cataract Surgery Co-Management
A follow-up appointment after your surgery will be scheduled the following day to test your eyes and ensure they are healing correctly. If you need cataract removal in your other eye, the second appointment is usually scheduled a few weeks after the first eye surgery in order to give the initial eye time to heal.
To schedule an appointment to see if cataract surgery would be right for you, give us a call today at (708) 460-2020.