June 2021 is Cataract Awareness Month. One of the main symptoms is blurry vision, and having cataracts is like looking through a murky window.
Over a period of time, cataracts get worse and start to interfere with the vision. Critical skills like driving, reading, working, hobbies and sports are affected due to loss of vision and therefore affecting the overall quality of life. If cataracts are untreated, the eye disease will eventually cause total blindness. Our eyes are Intricate and complex, and they take in and process light and communicate information to the brain through electronic impulses. Several diseases and conditions – viral, bacterial, and genetic – affect the eyes and their ability to function properly. Any sign of unusual eye symptoms should prompt a visit with an eye care professional. Therefore, it is imperative that we know cataract symptoms and we take care of our eyes so that we can continue living a healthy and active lifestyle.
Understanding Cataracts
Symptoms are:
- Clouded, blurred, or dim vision.
- Increasing difficulty with vision at night.
- Sensitivity to light and glare.
- Need for brighter light for reading and other activities.
- Seeing “halos” around lights.
- Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescription.
- Fading or yellowing of colors.
As your eyes get older, the lens of your eye may become cloudy. By age 80, nearly half of individuals develop some lens clouding, referred to as cataracts. Cataracts can also form through genetic disorders or other medical conditions. Symptoms include blurred vision, changes in colored vision, poor night vision, or double vision. The early symptoms of cataracts can be reduced by changes in lenses or lighting conditions. In later stages, surgical removal of the cataract may be warranted.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma does not refer to damage to the eyeball itself, but rather to the optic nerve that carries visual information to the brain. Changes in eye pressure may constrict the nerve, causing glaucoma. Medicated eye drops are a common treatment, but surgery may be necessary in severe cases.
If you experience any vision change, visit an eye care provider immediately. An eye exam is essential to monitoring eye health, preserving your vision for life.
Dry Eye
Dry eye syndrome is caused by a chronic lack of sufficient lubrication and moisture on the surface of the eye. Consequences of dry eyes range from subtle but constant eye irritation to significant inflammation and even scarring of the front surface of the eye.
In addition to being called dry eye syndrome, dry eye disease, or simply “dry eye,” alternative medical terms used to describe dry eyes include:
Keratitis sicca.
Generally used to describe dryness and inflammation of the cornea.
Keratoconjunctivitis sicca. Used to describe a dry eye that affects both the cornea and the conjunctiva.
Dysfunctional tear syndrome.
Used to emphasize that inadequate quality of tears can be just as important as inadequate quantity. Dry eyes can become red and irritated, causing a feeling of scratchiness.
“The soul, fortunately, has an interpreter – often an unconscious but still a faithful interpreter – in the eye.” ― Charlotte Brontë, Jane Eyre
Contact our office immediately if you are experiencing cataracts symptoms.