If you find it difficult to read or drive a car at night, or you are seeing blurry images, you may have cataracts. Cataracts in Cleveland are cloudy areas in the eye that block light from reaching the back of the eye. The result is blurry vision that gives the person the feeling of looking through cloudy water or a foggy window.
Cataracts usually appear later on in life as the eyes start to age, but it is also possible for juveniles to develop catracts due to a conjenital defect. Sometimes cataracts are present when the baby is born or they can develop later on on their childhood.
When cataracts start to develop in older people, they may not know they have them at first. But over time their vision will gradually get blurrier and they find it difficult to see. Better lighting and stronger glasses will help the person’s vision, but the cataracts will eventually get so bad, that the person may need surgery.
An eye doctor can help diagnose cataracts in Cleveland. They will have the patient read letters on a chart from across the room. A slit lamp is also used to diagnose cataracts. A slit lamp examination is when the doctor looks at the patient’s eye through a microscope so he or she can see the front of the eye. A light is used to illuminate the iris, cornea and lens and the eye doctor can easily check for any eye problems. A retinal exam is another type of examination used to diagnose cataracts. The doctor uses eye drops to dilate the patient’s pupils making it easier for the eye doctor to get a better look at the eye to check for cataracts. If the patient does have cataracts, the doctor will be able to determine how much cloudiness is there, and will be able to determine how severe the patient’s cataracts are. The pupils will remain dilated for a few hours but will return to normal after the eye drops wear off.
If the doctor determines you have cataracts in Cleveland, but not yet in need of surgery, there are some things that can help you. Get the most accurate prescription glasses you can get. Use brighter lighting in your home. Be sure to wear sunglasses on bright, sunny days. And try to avoid driving at night if you feel you are not able to see clearly.
If a patient’s eyesight is so severe that they start having trouble leaving their house, it affects their job or they have a hard time recognizing people, that is a sign that surgery is needed.
