Cataracts.
It is a term that is often associated with old age and a progressive loss of sight.
However, this condition is not noticeable at early stages in most cases. In other words, cataracts won’t affect you immediately unlike a sudden illness. Instead, it is a slow process in which the transparent lens in your eye gradually blurs.
Let’s walk through cataract symptoms that can worsen gradually over time.
What are Cataracts?
A cataract happens when the natural lens present in your eye become cloudy. This is caused by the breakdown of the proteins in those lenses, making vision blurry, hazy or less colorful.
Think of your eye as a camera. The iris is followed by the lens. In a healthy eye, this lens is as clear as glass and its function is to bend (refract) light and point it in the back of your eye (the retina) so that you can see clear and sharp images.
A cataract is merely a smoky spot which develops upon this transparent lens.
Why does this happen? The lens consists of both water and proteins. However, with time, and typically as a result of aging, the proteins may begin to break down and clump together. As they get lumped together, they will form a hazy or cloudy cover that will not allow the light to pass through it correctly.
When viewing through a cataract is said to be like viewing through a dirty, foggy, or frosted-up window. You experience a cloudy vision.
Cataracts are slow, and in some cases may take many years. At the very beginning, the cloudiness is only on a small section of the lens so there may be no noticeable difference. The symptoms cannot be neglected as the cataract increases in size, though.
(Also read: The difference between Cataracts and Glaucoma)
The Early Warning Signs of Cataracts
Here are early cataract symptom that tend to develop over time rather than erupt all at once.
Cloudy, Blurry, or Dim Vision
This is the usual, typical, initial symptom. It begins to seem that you have a filter over your eyes.
It feels hazy or foggy or blurred whatever be the distance you are viewing, whether it is far away or a close up. It is as though a film of paper has covered your eye that you cannot shake or wipe off your glasses.
This blurriness as opposed to the difficulty in concentrating in close-up text (also known as presbyopia) due to age, which could be corrected with the help of reading glasses comfortably. And a cataract clouds your vision everywhere.
Difficulty with Night Vision or Low-Light Vision
You might notice that night driving becomes stressful or that dimly lit restaurants seem darker than before.
The clearer the lens is the more the light reaches your retina hence easier to see during low-light conditions. The first thing you can do is to avoid night driving as road lights, pedestrians and lanes become difficult to observe.
When you find it difficult to drive in the dark or read than before, it is time to have your eyes checked.
Heightened Light and Glare sensitivity
Is it suddenly too bright? The cataracts may make your eyes far more sensitive to the light.
For example, the sunlight, the overhead lights and even the phone screens can appear too bright. During the night, the headlights may appear as flares of blinding light, or stars bursting up, and it is difficult to concentrate on the road.
Seeing "Halos" Around Lights
Rings or halos around the sources of lights is one of the most significant cataract symptoms. Streetlights, lamps, or headlights may appear surrounded by glowing circles or rainbow-like rings.
It is the halo effect which is formed when the lens gets cloudy disproportionately and refracts the light in various directions--this is most apparent in darkness.
Colors (appear) Faded or Yellowish.
Over time, cataracts can cause your vision to lose its natural brightness.
The whites can be off-white, blues may be grey, and bright color will not be bright. Many people describe it as if the world has taken on a yellow or brown tint.
This process occurs slowly and it may not be noticeable to you how much your ability to perceive colors had been altered until you have cataract surgery to restore your eyesight to its original state.
Frequent Changes in Glasses or Contact Lens Prescription
Do you seem like you are constantly changing your vision and require a new pair of glasses more frequently? That might be an emerging cataract symptom.
This happens because the cataract alters the shape and the density of your lens, and your vision continues to change. Every new prescription may be useful for a short while, but the clarity fades again as the cataract progresses.
It may introduce an interesting twist.
Some people briefly notice improved near vision and can suddenly read without glasses--this is called "second sight." Unfortunately, it's temporary and usually a sign that the cataract is advancing.
Double Vision in One Eye
A cataract sometimes can cause one to see two overlapping images when one eye is open (called monocular double vision).
You can test it easily to see if you have this eye condition.
Cover your other eye. In case the double image is still present in the same eye, it may be as a result of alteration in the lens by a cataract.
Diagnosis and Treatment
Once a cataract is detected, an eye doctor can update your glasses. However if nothing works, surgery is often recommended to remove the cloudy natural lens and replace it with an artificial Intraocular Lens (IOL).
Over to You…
So you must have understood the possible signs of cataract. If you experience any of these signs or doubt that you may have the one, make sure to see an eye doctor or you can visit us at Baumrind Eye. A timely diagnose will help you manage the symptoms and keep your eyes healthier for longer.
FAQs
1. What do cataracts early signs look like?
The early signs include blurred vision, light glare, difficulty in night vision, and yellow or bleached color.
2. At what age should I get to see an eye doctor for cataracts symptoms?
Consult an eye specialist whenever you experience vision impairment that interferes with your everyday activities.
3. Are both the eyes affected by cataracts?
Yes, the cataracts can occur in one eye, and then in the other one, not necessarily simultaneously or with an equal speed.
4. Are cataracts painful?
No, cataracts are not painful, but they may gradually make your vision cloudy or dim.
