Are you aware of the symptoms of cataracts?

More than half of Americans either have a cataract or have had surgery for it by age 80.

What is a cataract?  A cataract is the clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision and is especially common in older Americans – 17% age 40 and over have cataracts in one or both eyes.

Why?  In a normal eye, light passes through a transparent lens to the retina (a light sensitive tissues at the back of the eye).  Once there, light changes into nerve signals that are sent to the brain.  For the retina to receive a sharp image, the lens must be clear.  If it’s not, as with a cataract, what you will see will be blurry.

SYMPTOMS:  It’s time to schedule an eye exam with one of our doctors when a person experiences:

  • Cloudy or blurry vision
  • Fading of colors
  • Decreased night vision
  • Increased glare (sunlight, indoor lighting, or oncoming automobile headlights may feel too bright or you see a halo effect around lights)
  • Double of multiple images in one eye
  • More frequent prescription changes in glasses or contacts

GOOD NEWS!  Cataracts are-in most cases- a natural part of aging.  If a cataract does need to be removed with a very common procedure, the result will be vastly improved vision.