Cataracts are an extremely common condition of the eye. It’s something that’s routinely diagnosed by our optometrist in Langley. According to the University of Michigan, “By age 65, over 90 perfect of people have a cataract and half of the people between the ages of 75 and 85 have lost some vision due to a cataract.” That’s almost everyone. While that might seem scary, it’s important to remember that cataracts aren’t painful. They are even often treatable.

What is a Cataract?

Cataracts are cloudy formation on the lens of your eye. The lens sits behind your pupil and handles focusing light and images onto your retina.

What Causes Cataracts?

We don’t really know what causes the lens to start to develop this cloudiness. We know that the cloudiness is caused by proteins in the lens “clumping” together as we grow older. Those clumps can get bigger and start to affect our vision. People who have diabetes, hypertension, or who are overweight or smokers are all at a higher risk of developing cataracts. You might also be at risk if your family has a history of developing cataracts.

What Are the Warning Signs?

The warning signs of a cataract are fairly obvious, though if they develop slowly you might not notice the issue as much. You’ll experience cloudy, blurred vision. You might also feel like the lighting in the room is dimmer than it used to be. You might see halos around lights or need brighter light to work on projects or for reading. In extreme cases, you might notice that the colors in your vision are fading.

What Are the Treatment Options?

There are many treatment options for cataracts, and many of them can happen in the comfort of your own home. Our optometrist can help with many others or refer you to a specialist. Here are some of the non-invasive treatment options available:

  • Stronger glasses prescription.
  • Brighter lighting.
  • Using a magnifying glass.
  • Wearing sunglasses that block glare.

Talk to our optometrist in Langley to determine if these are the best course of action for your cataracts. It may be one of these treatment options or something else that works best. Surgery to remove the cataracts is another option and one that’s been highly successful in treating the condition. However, surgery should be a last-resort measure and only used when cataracts are severely affecting your vision and everyday life. Recovery time is relatively minimal, though, and most patients report improved vision after the operation.

Make an Appointment to Be Screened for Cataracts

Our optometrist in Langley routinely screens patients for cataracts when they come into our office for their annual eye exam. If you aren’t due for an eye exam but are concerned that you are experiencing the symptoms of cataracts, make an appointment with us. The sooner your cataracts are diagnosed, the sooner we can start a treatment plan to help you retain your vision and overcome the symptoms for clearer vision, longer. Give us a call or contact us online today to make an appointment for your annual eye exam or a cataract screening today.