Cataracts are a very common condition of the eye. They occur when your eye's natural lens becomes cloudy, causing problems with your vision. Fortunately, the professionals at Gregg Family Eye Care in Secane can treat the condition and improve your vision.
Who Is At Risk For Cataracts?
Although anyone can develop cataracts, certain factors can increase your risk of developing this condition. These include:
- As you get older, your risk of developing cataracts increases greatly.
- Having diabetes
- Being overweight or obese
- Having high blood pressure
- Being a smoker
- Drinking alcohol excessively
- Previous eye injuries or eye surgery
- Long-term use of corticosteroid medications
The Symptoms of Cataracts
In the early stages, you might not show any symptoms at all. As the disease progresses, you can experience the following symptoms:
- Cloudy vision that can be compared to looking out a dirty window
- Dim vision
- Fading or yellowing of colors
- Trouble seeing at night
- Sensitivity to glare and light
- Seeing halos around light
- Needing brighter lights to read or do close-up work
- Double vision in one eye
- Needing frequent changes in your eyeglass prescription
Cataract Prevention
Although there have been no studies that prove that cataracts can be prevented, eye doctors believe that there are steps that can be taken to prevent cataracts. These steps include:
- Seeing your eye doctor regularly
- Managing your health conditions
- Quitting smoking
- Eating a healthy diet.
- Drinking less alcohol
- Wearing sunglasses while you are outside
Diagnosing Cataracts
Cataracts can be diagnosed during your annual eye exam. Tests such as visual acuity tests, a slit lamp exam, and a retinal exam can all be used to determine if you have cataracts.
Cataract Treatment
In the early stages, our eye doctor may just increase your eyeglass prescription to help you see better. As the condition progresses, cataract surgery will be necessary. Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure and is often performed in a hospital or a surgical center. You will remain awake during the procedure, but the doctor will give you something to keep you relaxed during the surgery.
The surgery itself involves the doctor removing your eye's natural lens that has become cloudy and they replace it with an artificial lens, known as an intraocular lens. Cataracts often occur in both eyes, and your eye doctor will perform the surgery on one eye at a time. They will operate on the worse eye first.
Cataract Testing in Secane, PA
If you are experiencing the symptoms of cataracts, schedule an appointment at Gregg Family Eye Care in Secane, PA. Our optometrist will perform an eye exam to determine if you have cataracts. If you do, we will create a treatment plan that will allow you to see better. Because many conditions of the eye show no early symptoms, it is essential that you schedule an eye exam with us every year. Call us today at 610-543-1219 to book your next eye exam.