A cataract is a common eye condition where the lens of the eye slowly becomes weak and cloudy. Cataracts can massively reduce the sharpness of your vision and a common sign is developing a yellowish tint that begins to cloud your vision.
If left untreated your vision can become severely impaired, so it is never wise to ignore the symptoms or the effects of this serious eye condition.
As you age, your vision changes and you may find you need to rely on eyeglasses to see things sharply. Cataract often affects the eyesight of adults over 40 years old, but many people are unaware they are developing them as cataracts do not come with a lot of noticeable symptoms right away.
You may start to notice that you have difficulty seeing things around you as clearly as you once did. Most people will think they need a new prescription for their glasses, so it is often your optometrist that will spot the first signs that you are developing cataracts.
Look out for subtle symptoms
A lot of people will go for a long time with undiagnosed cataracts and this is worrying because if your struggle on without treatment you could be damaging your vision even more. A common symptom is struggling to read or work in the same light conditions that you are used to.
If you need a stronger light to read or work without straining your eyes, or you notice your eyesight is becoming a little fuzzy or blurry, or you develop dry eyes, then you should tell your optometrist. Even mild eye strain that leaves your eyes feeling tired all the time can be an early sign of cataracts.
Here are some subtle symptoms of undiagnosed cataracts:
Double Vision
Double vision can be an early sign of cataract development. As the eye lens becomes cloudy, it can scatter the light entering your eyes causing you to see two images.
Poor Night Vision
Cloudiness affecting your eye lens will affect your vision making it more difficult to see clearly in poor light conditions. Your vision can form halos and blind-spots. Driving at night can become dangerous as the glare from car headlights can dazzle you causing temporary blindness.
Difficulty Distinguishing Colours
Cataracts can also negatively affect your colour vision. Colours may appear muted, or you will start to notice colours have a yellowish-brown tinge. As the condition advances, you will struggle to distinguish between blues and purples.
What happens if I leave my cataracts untreated?
Ignoring your developing cataract problem will eventually lead to the total loss of your sight. While it isn’t wise to let your eye condition degrade to this extent, it is possible to restore your vision with cataract surgery.
While having cataract surgery is a very safe procedure, there still remains a very small risk of complications. This is why it is sensible to get your cataract diagnosis as early as possible so you can get the early intervention that you need.
Diagnosing and treating cataracts as early as possible will give you a better chance of preserving your vision and will effectively delay or slow down any further deterioration to your vision. Eventually, your condition may need cataract surgery and this is where the Eye Surgeon can be a great help.
Find out more about cataract surgery with the Eye Surgeon in London, or contact our friendly team to discuss your symptoms if you think you are at risk of developing cataracts.
