Cataracts can affect your vision and make tasks like reading or driving challenging. At Luke Eye Associates in Midland, TX, we provide comprehensive eye exams to accurately diagnose cataracts and treatment to preserve your vision. Before you visit us, learn more about what causes cataracts and why treatment is important below:
What are Cataracts and How Do They Develop?
Cataracts cause the lens of the eye to become cloudy and occur due to protein build-up within the lens. While they often develop from aging, cataracts can happen develop from a variety of factors. Some causes of cataracts include:
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- Family history
- Excess exposure to UV rays
- Eye injuries
- Prolonged use of steroid medications
Symptoms of Cataracts
Cataracts tend to develop slowly over time, so you might not notice symptoms at first. However, certain symptoms can highly affect your eyesight and we recommend seeking treatment right away. Some of these symptoms include:
- Sudden blurry vision or vision that is blurrier than before
- Cloudy or hazy vision
- Double vision
- Light sensitivity
- Colors appear yellow or faded
- Difficulty seeing at night
- Seeing halos around lights
- Having difficulty seeing with your current eyeglass prescription
While cataracts develop slowly, they can cause vision loss. Due to this, it is important to visit us for an eye exam as soon as you start noticing symptoms for early detection and prompt treatment.
How Are Cataracts Treated?
When cataracts are detected early, preventative eye care and lifestyle adjustments can be beneficial for your vison. We recommend wearing sunglasses to protect your eyes from UV rays, using lenses with an anti-glare coating, and using brighter lights. You might also need a new prescription for your glasses or contacts.
However, when cataracts progress and interfere with your daily life, you may need surgery. You will still need to take precautionary steps to protect your eyes, as cataracts can sometimes develop after surgery. Once a cataract is removed and an artificial lens is put in its place, it cannot develop a cataract, but the membrane that is responsible for supporting that lens can.
Contact us for an Appointment Today!
If you are experiencing any symptoms of cataracts, our team at Luke Eye Associates in Midland, TX, can. Once we learn more about your condition, we can recommend the necessary treatment that will help you see more clearly. To learn about our treatments or to schedule your appointment, call us at (432) 234-1795 today. When you’re looking for an optometrist near me, we look forward to assisting you!