Cataracts are typically found in older adults, however, certain congenital and medical conditions can cause cataract formation in the pediatric population. Eye injuries, diabetes, and certain medications such as steroids can also raise the risk for cataracts.

Cataracts are the opacities that turn your eye's naturally clear lens cloudy. Signs and symptoms of cataracts include blurred or double vision, the yellowish appearance of colors, excessive glare when looking at bright lights, halo formations around lights, and poor night vision. Here are some vision care recommendations to consider if you have cataracts.

Cataract Removal And Lens Implant

Surgery is the most effective vision care option for treating cataracts. During your surgery, your eye doctor will remove the clouded natural lens of your eye and then replace it with an artificial clear intraocular implant.

Cataract surgery is generally performed in an outpatient setting, and patients can go home soon after their procedures have been completed. After your surgery, your eye doctor will place a protective eye shield over your eye to prevent injury. The doctor will also prescribe antibiotic eye drops and anti-inflammatory drops to use when you get home. 

Prescription Monitoring

If surgery is not the right vision care option for you, then eyeglass prescription monitoring may be an appropriate choice. This means visiting your optometrist on a regular basis so that they can evaluate your vision with and without your corrective lenses. If your vision worsens between office visits, your eye doctor can increase the power of your glasses. In addition to stronger prescriptions, cataract patients often respond well to special coatings that are applied to the lenses to cut down on glare.

While increasing the prescription power can help restore your vision, it may not be an effective long-term solution. Increasing the power of your glasses may not be aesthetically pleasing to you because it can make your lenses too thick. In addition to the cosmetic effects of thick lenses, the extra thickness of the lenses may be too heavy for you to comfortably wear your glasses. If your cataracts are still in their early stages, you can choose to wear contact lenses instead of thick eyeglasses. 

If you have cataracts, consider the above vision care options. Cataracts are very treatable, so even though you may be discouraged about your cataract-related vision problems, rest assured that your eye doctor can recommend many treatment options to greatly improve your visual acuity. 

Contact a vision care center for more information. 

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