As people grow older, ocular degeneration becomes a more common occurrence. Cataracts are when a protein film begins to build over the lens of your eye, making your vision cloudier as the growth progresses and blocks more light from coming in. Processing light as the main way you visually interact with your environment, so as new lens cells form they cover the protein build up, pushing it down against the old cells, blocking more and more light. If you are worried that you may be developing cataracts, you wouldn’t be alone. According to webmd.com over half of people aged 65 and over suffer from cataracts.
What are the signs of cataracts?
- The most obvious sign that you’re developing cataracts is that your vision begins to turn cloudy. This is the buildup of proteins on your lens, and can signal to a professional what is happening immediately.
- A phenomenon known as “Second sight” where your near sighted vision improves but your far sighted vision gets worse. The effect can be so staggering that reading glasses may not even be needed anymore.
- There could be changes in the way you see color.
- The glare from the headlights of oncoming traffic may affect you more, making it harder to drive safely at night.
- Somewhat connected to the last problem, the glare from daylight may start to obstruct your normal vision as well.
- You may begin to experience double vision.
- Finally, any general change in your prescription could be a sign of cataract development.
These are the biggest signals that you could be developing cataracts. If you think you have been experiencing any of those symptoms, or more than a few of them, it is important you come in to get your eyes checked immediately. With a simple eye exam, you will know for sure whether cataracts are what are causing your changes in vision and any vision problems, and corrective procedures can be undertaken to help. Depending on how badly your eyesight is affected, you might simply be prescribed contacts or glasses to use. However, if the cataracts have impacted your vision too much, then you may need to undertake a cataract surgery procedure to repair the damage, which while more expensive is worth the money to let you see the world as you used to.
Information presented available from http://www.webmd.com/eye-health/cataracts/health-cataracts-eyes