What All Older Adults Should Know About Cataracts

Cataracts in Weston FL are a common eye condition, especially for people over the age of 65. If you have cataracts, the first thing you will notice is that your eyes seem cloudy. Other patients have compared the sensation to looking through a window that has become foggy due to condensation or cold air. Cloudy vision can make it much more challenging to do everyday tasks, such as driving and reading, and seeing other people’s faces clearly.

Common Symptoms of Cataracts

The symptoms of cataracts typically develop slowly, which means that most people cannot appreciate changes to their vision until the condition advances. Below are several symptoms you may notice as your cataracts worsen.

• Blurry, cloudy, or dim vision
• Difficulty seeing at night, which makes night driving impossible for some people
• Double vision in the left or right eye
• Frequent changes in your prescription for contact lenses or eyeglasses
• Need brighter light to see clearly while reading and completing other close-up activities
• Noticing halo formations around lights
• Sensitivity to lights and glare from the sun
• Yellowing and general fading of colors

Please schedule an exam with Rouse Family Eye Care right away if you notice any of these symptoms.

Risk Factors for Cataracts

Being over age 65 is the greatest risk factor for cataracts. Others include:

• Diabetes
• Excessive alcohol intake
• Excessive sun exposure
• Family history of cataracts
• Overweight or obese condition
• Previous eye injury or surgery
• Smoking

We encourage you to control the risk factors that you can, such as your weight, sun exposure, drinking alcohol, and smoking. Although you cannot do anything about getting older, maintaining a healthy lifestyle goes a long way toward enjoying good eye health in your senior years.

How Cataracts Develop Over Time

The lens of your eye sits behind the iris, which is the colored portion. Normally, the lens focuses on the light that passes through it and allows you to see what you are looking at in sharp contrast. Aging causes the lens to become thicker, less clear, and less flexible, resulting in clouding.

The good news is that a quick outpatient surgery can eliminate cataracts in Weston FL or at least greatly diminish the symptoms. Please contact us to request a consultation today.