Diagnosing and Care for Cataracts

The older adult population in the United States is most susceptible to cataracts. It’s an eye condition that causes clouding of the lens. Nevertheless, other people can also be at a higher risk. These include patients who suffered from an eye or head trauma or a particular eye disease. The same goes for those who have undergone LASIK or other procedures that could damage their lens proteins.


Sadly, cataracts are long-term eye problems. In most people, their vision worsens over time. If you want to find out more about how cataracts are diagnosed, read on to learn about their symptoms and how they’re treated.

 

Common Warning Signs

Cataracts generally don’t result in any symptoms. Signs only surface once cataracts have grown large enough to interfere with vision. Some of the prevalent symptoms include cloudy or blurry vision, double vision, and increased sensitivity to glare. Others report colors appearing faded and seeing halos around lights.

 

Age-related cataracts are commonly diagnosed during a routine eye examination. Cataracts often develop over a long period. In many cases, they’re not noticeable until they start causing extreme vision changes. That’s why it’s vital, especially for older people, to see their eye doctor regularly. They will perform several tests to check for cataracts, including:

 

Visual Acuity Test

This is to measure how well you can see while standing at various distances from the cue card. It aims to identify the changes and the degree of impact cataracts have on your vision.

 

Slip Lamp Examination

This involves using a specialized microscope to magnify the eye and its structures. This lets your doctor examine your eye up close and in detail.

 

Tonometry Test

Also known as pressure test, this aims to determine if you have elevated fluid pressure in your eyes. If so, it’s an indication that you may have severe cataracts, which can be dangerous.

 

Dilated Eye Examination

This is another part of a thorough eye exam, which lets your doctor get a better look inside your eye. During dilation, special eye drops are used to force your pupil to stay open. Once dilated, your doctor gets to examine the back of your eye in more detail. This test helps diagnose not just cataracts but also other eye diseases, such as glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy.

 

Care and Treatment

Mild cases of cataracts can be treated easily with prescription eyewear. These include eyeglasses, contact lenses, anti-glare glasses, and magnifying lenses.

 

In cases where your quality of life is already affected or your ability to function normally on a day-to-day basis is compromised, cataract surgery may be recommended. Your eye doctor can only cure cataracts by surgical removal. It’s safe and effective. In fact, nine out of 10 patients benefit from improved vision after the operation. It’s also been found to enhance a person’s daily functioning, mental outlook, and general quality of life.

 

Are you 40 years old or older and have trouble seeing clearly? If you haven’t visited your eye doctor yet, contact Electric City Eye Care today.

 

Learn more about diagnosing & care for cataracts, contact Electric City Eye Care in  Anderson, SC at (864) 224-2088 for a comprehensive eye exam.