Diagnosing and Treating Cataracts

Cataracts are one of the most common conditions that affect our eyes. Completely painless and developing slowly over a number of months and years, they occur when the small, clear disc that covers the front surface of your eye develops cloudy patches that interrupt your usual vision. They can occur at any age but are more commonly diagnosed in older patients over the age of 60. Fortunately, eye doctors are more easily able to diagnose and treat cataracts than ever before. 

What Causes Cataracts?

The lens of our eyes has two primary components. These are proteins and water. The proteins are structured in a very precise way which enables them to be present but still allows light to pass through the eyes so that we can see clearly. However, as we age these proteins no longer retain their structured position and instead start to clump together in patches. It is these patches that become known as cataracts. Over time, these clouded patches become denser and larger until our vision becomes completely obscured. Although cataracts tend to occur in both eyes, their rate of development can vary.

How Do I Know if I Have Cataracts?

Clouded vision is the most obvious symptom of cataracts. It develops slowly, so you may not realize that you are being affected right away, but eventually, you may start to feel as though you are looking through the frosted glass when you try to look around. Other symptoms of cataracts include:

• Difficulty focusing

• A clouded patch in your vision

• Colors appear faded

• Sensitivity to bright light

• Double vision 

• Difficulty seeing clearly at night 
   

If you experience any of these symptoms, it is important that you make an appointment with your eye doctor. You may not necessarily be affected by cataracts, but there is some sort of issue with your vision that needs to be explored. 

How Are Cataracts Diagnosed?

Most cataracts can be successfully detected during a regular eye exam. This is because eye exams contain a number of elements that could indicate the presence of a cataract. These include:

A slit lamp exam. A slit lamp is a piece of equipment that enables your eye doctor to look at the structures at the front of your eye under magnification in order to check for abnormalities. 

A retinal exam. This exam is carried out so that your eye doctor can look at the structures at the back of your eyes, including the light-sensitive cells called the retina. To do this, you will need to have eye drops which will cause your pupils to open wide so that your eye doctor can see through them. The slit lamp can then be used to examine your eye to see if you have a cataract. 

A visual acuity test. This is the most well-known test in an eye exam and assesses how clearly you can read letters off of a chart at varying distances. This will tell your eye doctor if your vision shows signs of being impaired. 

What Treatment is Available for Cataracts?

There are two different options available for the treatment of cataracts. The first, which involves wearing prescription lenses, only rectify the symptoms rather than addressing the cataract itself. Nevertheless, the correct prescription lenses with an anti-reflective coating can provide enough relief from your symptoms in the early days of cataracts. 

Unfortunately, cataracts are progressive so prescription lenses will not stop your condition from worsening. The only permanent solution is to undergo cataract surgery. This is one of the most common elective eye surgeries in the world and is very straightforward. The process involves removing the clouded natural lens of the eye and replacing it with an artificial alternative that is known as an IOL or intraocular lens. There are various different types of IOL available, and your eye doctor will help you to find the variety that will be most suitable for you based on your individual requirements. 

Cataract surgery can usually be performed in under an hour. However, because your vision could be significantly impaired for up to 6 weeks while your eye adjusts to the new artificial lens, it is recommended that you have the surgery on one eye at a time. 

If you would like to discover more about the diagnosis and treatment of cataracts, please don’t hesitate to speak to our experienced eye care team Cave Creek, AZ.