Just because cataracts are a common condition for seniors does not mean that you should ignore them. If you leave your cataracts untreated, they will gradually get worse, stealing your vision in the process. Below, the accomplished eye doctors at Vista Eye Specialists describe what happens when you avoid cataract surgery, and why that is not a wise decision.
Quality of Vision Degrades Steadily
Cataracts occur when the proteins in the eye’s lens deteriorate and begin to clump together. This causes hazy vision. By the age of 75, nearly all of us will have developed cataracts in one or both eyes. Unfortunately, the cloudiness on the lens can make it more challenging for a person to read, drive, make dinner, and perform other activities of daily living. Simultaneously, it increases light sensitivity and diminishes night vision.
As vision declines, some people continuously update their prescription lenses to try to improve their vision. Ultimately, neither eyeglasses nor contacts can spare your vision. That is a task best left to cataract surgery.
Why Cataract Surgery Makes Sense
Currently, cataract surgery ranks as one of the top surgeries performed throughout the United States. Once potential patients learn that the procedure is quick, not painful, and poses minimal complication risks, they generally realize that having the surgery is much easier than trying to navigate having progressively worse vision.
During surgery, an ophthalmologist carefully removes the eye’s cloudy lens. This natural lens is replaced with an intraocular lens (IOL) and the patient will not develop cataracts in the future. Because premium IOLs can help to correct refractive errors like hyperopia, myopia, and astigmatism, patients can often see even better than they did prior to having cataracts.
Patients who are diagnosed with cataracts should undergo regular eye exams. It usually is not necessary to get cataract surgery immediately, but it also is not advisable to wait until the late stages of cataract development when vision has become increasingly difficult. Maintain an ongoing conversation with your doctor to decide when the appropriate time for surgery is.
Schedule a Consultation
Why wait until you become legally blind to have cataract surgery if you don’t have to? As soon as cataracts impact your ability to see at night or drive, your safety is at stake. Given what a straightforward procedure cataract surgery is when performed by an expert ophthalmologist like Dr. Binoy Jani, you might as well start enjoying the benefits of clear vision sooner. For an appointment at our offices in Fredericksburg and Culpeper, VA, please call (1-888-393-5264).
