How Do I Know That I Have Cataracts?

                         Image via Wikipedia

Cataracts cause the lens of the eye to become cloudy. At first they may not affect your vision at all, but as they become larger your vision will become increasingly blurred - it will be like looking through frosted glass all the time - until eventually you may lose all your functional vision in your affected eye(s).

You may also notice other symptoms in addition to the blurring of your vision. Cataracts can make sunlight or lamplight appear too bright or glaring. Oncoming headlights when you are driving at night can be another problem as they may cause more glare than they did before. You might also find that colours do not seem as bright as they once did.

Some people find that they become increasingly nearsighted and they require frequent changes in their glasses prescription. Whilst changing your prescription might initially help, eventually, as the cataract grows, stronger glasses or contact lenses will no longer improve your vision.

There are a number of different types of cataracts - and the type of cataract will affect exactly which symptoms you experience and how quickly they will occur. The most common type of cataract is called a senile cataract. They develop almost exclusively in those over the age of 60, although the underlying damage that eventually leads to the cataract formation usually begins decades earlier. Senile cataracts often start as a discoloration of the lens. As the localized structural damage grows, so vision problems occur.

It's vitally important that you have cataracts properly diagnosed by a qualified optometrist. People sometimes confuse a condition called nuclear sclerosis with the development of cataracts because nuclear sclerosis (a hardening of the lens of the eye) causes the lens to become less translucent. This gives it a grey or pearly appearance. Fortunately nuclear sclerosis does not usually significantly interfere with a person's vision.

It's important to remember that cataracts are not cancerous, are not infectious (they can't spread from one eye to the other) and do not affect other structures in your eye.

Once diagnosed, do not panic. They can be treated and are not a cause of irreversible blindness. Your optometrist may recommend surgery - but there is an alternative. Cataract Drops can effectively and gently treat cataracts without the need for surgery.

Jacob has the vast knowledge in health and doing research on eye drops from past 6 year. He is working with can c eye drops and write the articles on cataract eye drops, carnosine drops and senile cataract.

Resources - How Do I Know That I Have Cataracts?