Diagnosing Cataracts

Posted on by Hortulus Optometrists
diagnosing cataracts

Cataracts are one of the most common eye conditions and it mostly affects patients who are over forty.  Cataracts develop when there are strands of protein that start forming on your lens making your vision blurry.  Your optometrist is an expert in diagnosing cataracts and the condition is easily treated, however if left untreated it can lead to blindness.  Here is a closer look at how cataracts develop.

Symptoms of Cataracts

They symptoms for cataracts will vary depending on where they happen to be located and if you have them in one or both eyes.  It can take years for cataracts to develop and you will notice your eyesight getting worse as time goes on.  Here are some of the symptoms that you might notice as cataracts start growing and impacting your ability to see.

  • Blurry or double vision
  • Sensitivity to bright lights or glare
  • Frequent changes in the prescriptions of your glasses and sunglasses
  • Changes in the color of your eyes
  • Difficulty seeing at night or in low light
  • Halo effect around lights.

Difficult with Everyday Tasks

As your cataracts grow you will notice changes in your vision, this is a common problem among cataract sufferers.  It can start with noticing a halo effect that happens around lights, it won’t matter if it is natural light or light bulbs in your home.  This also makes driving at night very uncomfortable and it can be dangerous as well.  The glare from the oncoming headlights creates the halo effect and become blinding, this can drastically impair your ability to see while driving and you can find yourself in an accident.  You may also have problems distinguishing colors and separating shapes from their background this may also affect your ability to read.

Health Conditions that Lead to Cataracts

Cataracts can be caused from a bunch of different health conditions including other eye illnesses and diabetes.  However, according to other optometrists here in Raleigh, NC, age seems to be the biggest factor in developing cataracts.  They are rarely diagnosed in 20 year olds but are incredibly common among 80 year olds.  If you are over 70, cataracts can affect you and deteriorate your vision quickly.  No matter your age a cataract is an easily treated condition and cataract surgery is both safe and effective.  The recovery time is minimal and you can have your vision back within days.  If you even suspect you may have cataracts then please contact your optometrist promptly to have the condition fixed.

How Often Should You Get Your Eyes Examined?

Posted on by Hortulus Optometrists
How Often Should You Get Your Eyes Examined?

Eyes are our windows to the world. Not only are eyes one of the most beautiful features of the human body but also one of the most sensitive. Not only do they allow you to see but also judge and feel emotions as they make their way through vision and into our mind. We can’t really imagine the world without eyesight and that is why taking care of your eyes is just as important. Washing up in the morning or every other while just isn’t enough. Eyes need to be protected from harmful fumes, dust and any other medium that can cause irritation or lead to eventual problems that might require a dry eye treatment that will enable you to see comfortably here in Raleigh, North Carolina.

Common eye problems and causes

Continuous ignorance can lead to certain eye diseases which can be treated if reported in proper time otherwise, some of them can lead to eventual blindness if something isn’t done right away. Most common eye diseases are myopia, which occurs when far away objects look blurry, hyperopia, when nearsighted things look distorted, glaucoma, which can cause optic nerve damage, cataract, when a cloud like sheet appears in front of the lens and amblyopia also known as “lazy eye” when one eye has less vision power than the other.

Precaution is better than a cure

To stay on the safe side, it is highly recommended to get your eyes checked every two years if you are under 40 years of age and have had no vision problems so far. But people with glasses or vision issues need to get a test done at least once a year if not more. There’s a possibility of eye glass numbers increasing if proper care is not taken or decreasing if you’ve been careful about your eye problems. People with diabetes or other medical conditions need more frequent checkups as so do people with a family history of eye problems or medical health issues.

No time to waste

While this is the sad truth, most of us tend to ignore eye tests throughout life, unless something worrying turns up. It is an alarming call if one experiences symptoms like blurred vision, eye strain or frequent headaches. You have a difficulty reading text in books or on sign boards and squint to focus on the written text. You find it hard to drive during the night or in the dark. Floaters in the eyes, dryness, itching, redness and sudden flashes of light or seeing spots are some of the signs indicating the need for an eye exam as soon as possible. On time treatment will help get rid of these problems and ensure healthy eyesight.