Blog post by: Eye Physicians of Long Beach
Cataracts are a very common eye condition starting at age 40 and becoming more common in adults over the age of 65. While cataracts can affect your vision, they usually don’t cause pain.
Since they can make it harder to see, they may cause eye strain and the symptoms that come with it, like headaches and fatigue. On their own, cataracts don’t cause any physical pain, and you may not even notice them in the early stages.
The only way to know if you have cataracts is to be examined by an eye doctor. Cataracts are treatable, so it’s good to know if you have them, even if they’re very early in development.
Understanding what cataracts are and how they develop is the first step in managing this common condition. Keep reading to learn more about cataract symptoms, causes, and treatment options!
What Are Cataracts?
Cataracts occur when your eye’s natural lens, which is typically clear, becomes cloudy. As you age, the proteins inside of your natural lens begin to break down and clump together, causing the clouding.
Cataracts typically form due to the natural aging process within the eye, but they can also develop earlier in life due to eye injuries or certain health conditions, like diabetes. A person can even be born with congenital cataracts, although this is very rare.
Some common risk factors for cataracts include:
- Being over 40
- Having diabetes
- Having previous injury or trauma to the eye
- Smoking
- A family history of cataracts
While you can’t prevent cataracts, you can be aware of your risk and even lower your risk by leading a healthy lifestyle. If you do develop cataracts, you can then recognize the symptoms and seek a diagnosis.
What Are the Symptoms of Cataracts?
The most common symptoms of cataracts include:
- Blurry vision
- Poor night vision
- Glare and halos
- Light sensitivity
- Decreased ability to see color contrast
These symptoms tend to appear very slowly over time, as it can take years for cataracts to develop. Left untreated, symptoms can worsen and even cause blindness in some cases. Luckily, cataract surgery can restore vision lost due to cataracts.
Cataracts and Pain
While cataracts themselves don’t cause physical pain, they can lead to eye strain, particularly when performing detailed tasks without proper lighting. You might also experience increased sensitivity to bright lights, which, though not painful, can create significant discomfort in your daily life.
The impact of cataracts extends far beyond physical symptoms. As your vision deteriorates, everyday activities can become increasingly challenging. Advanced cataracts can significantly limit your independence, making routine tasks like cooking, cleaning, and laundry feel overwhelming or impossible.
This loss of independence can take a toll on your self-confidence and emotional well-being, as simple tasks you once took for granted become difficult to manage. Don’t wait until cataracts significantly impact your quality of life before seeking help.
Although cataracts won’t cause physical pain, their effect on your vision can lead to unnecessary stress and limitations in your daily life. Early diagnosis and treatment can help you maintain your independence and prevent these challenges from becoming more severe.
Living with Early Cataracts
While you’re deciding when to have cataract surgery, there are several ways to make daily life easier and more comfortable. Simple adjustments to your environment and habits can help you manage your symptoms:
Better Lighting
Adding more light to your home can make a big difference. Use brighter bulbs, add task lighting in areas where you read or do detailed work, and position lights to reduce glare. Natural light is helpful too, but make sure you can easily adjust blinds or curtains when the sun is too bright.
Visual Aids
Magnifying glasses can help with reading and detailed tasks. You might also benefit from large-print books, adjusting the text size on your digital devices, or using voice-command features on your phone. Some people find that wearing a wide-brimmed hat or quality sunglasses helps manage light sensitivity when outdoors.
Home Safety
As your vision changes, it’s important to prevent falls and accidents. Remove trip hazards like loose rugs, keep walkways clear, and consider adding contrast strips to stairs. Good lighting in hallways and bathrooms is especially important at night.
These temporary solutions can help you stay active and independent while you and your doctor determine the right time for cataract surgery. Remember, these adjustments aren’t meant to replace treatment – they’re just tools to help you maintain your quality of life until you’re ready for a more permanent solution.
How are Cataracts Treated?
There’s a simple solution for cataracts that can help restore your vision: cataract surgery. Your eye doctor will remove the cloudy lens in your eye and put in a new, clear, artificial one called an intraocular lens (IOL).
These new lenses often help people see even better than they did before cataracts, and depending on which IOL you choose, you may even be able to reduce your dependence on visual aids. Cataract surgery is one of the most common and safest eye procedures performed today.
Since cataracts usually develop slowly, you have time to choose when surgery makes sense for you. Most eye doctors will suggest having surgery once cataracts start interfering with your everyday activities.
You don’t need to wait until your vision becomes severely limited. Your eye doctor will help guide you, but the final decision about when to have cataract surgery is up to you.
Don’t feel like you need to struggle with poor vision or wait until daily tasks become impossible. Taking care of cataracts early can help you stay independent and enjoy life without the frustration of cloudy vision.
Are you experiencing symptoms of cataracts? Schedule a cataract evaluation at Eye Physicians of Long Beach in Long Beach, CA, today!