For a good number of people, when they think of cataracts, they envision conspicuously cloudy eye lens. However, the cloudiness typically manifests at later stages of the development of your cataract. In fact, it can be challenging to identify a cataract if you do not know what to look for since most people's eyes are still functional in the early stages of cataract development! You may think that cataracts should only be removed when they have become a conspicuous problem, but the best option is having them extracted in the early stages before they cause vision loss. Here are a few of the red flags indicating that you may need cataract surgery.
Vision problems in the dark
When you develop a cataract, one of the first symptoms that you will develop is difficulty seeing once the sun sets. For instance, you may be driving at night and find that you cannot see ahead, and this is incredibly dangerous for you and other motorists. The mistake people make is assuming that the loss of vision at night means a vitamin A deficiency or a sign of myopia. While these issues can cause nighttime vision loss, it is still imperative to see an optometrist so that they can establish if cataract surgery is the right course of action.
Progressive sensitivity to light
Another symptom that you will acquire at early onset cataract development is light sensitivity. For instance, you may find that you prefer staying indoors with the shades drawn on a sunny day since the extra sunlight is making your eyes uncomfortable. Moreover, you may find walking outdoors into bright sunshine or into a room that is brightly lit will make your eye feel pain. Light sensitivity is an especially common symptom among individuals who are developing cataracts located behind their eye lenses. Rather than choosing to wear sunglasses indoors and outdoors, it is crucial to set an appointment with an optometrist.
Yellow tints in your vision
A subtle symptom of cataracts is when you start to notice that everything around you seems to have a yellowish hue. This sign may be subtle to some people since they could assume that the tinge of colour is because of sunlight. In truth, the yellow tints in your vision are a clear sign that your sight is distorted possibly due to the growth of cataracts. Take note that the longer you leave this symptom unchecked, the higher the risk of progressive vision distortion. Thus, it is in your best interests to have your eyes examined to establish if cataract surgery is imperative.
I was not that surprised to find out that all three of my children are short-sighted considering that I have worn glasses since I was five. Eye health in children is an important topic to know about because it can impact on their learning at school. I began this blog to share eye health tips I have received from our optometrist. My blog posts will cover all things eye health like explaining optometry appointments to children so they know what to expect, and how to tell your child needs a visit to the optometrist sooner than their annual checkup. Don't let eye issues stop your children from excelling at school.