Eyeglasses as a Treatment Option Eyeglasses will not permanently fix cataracts, and your condition can continue to worsen. You can change your prescription over time to try and continuously combat the effects of cataracts, but eventually, the condition of your eyes may necessitate having to receive cataract surgery.
Cataracts are a natural part of growing older. However, repeated exposure to UV radiation without eye protection can amplify and speed up this process. Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide, so it's important to protect yourself however you can.
Glasses are not a means to treat cataracts but rather a way to circumvent the disease for a time. A new prescription may restore blurry vision for a moment but does not have any effect on the cataract. Eventually, a cataractous lens will win out and can go so far as to cause blindness if not removed.
Blue light filtering. Blue light filtering glasses can reduce some of the blue light emitted from digital screens, which may provide relief for individuals with cataracts who spend a lot of time on devices.
In many instances, the use of a premium IOL will reduce, if not eliminate entirely, your need for glasses after cataract surgery. Other benefits of using premium (multifocal) IOLs include: Better range of vision. Improved vision in a wide range of lighting conditions.
Eyeglasses will not permanently fix cataracts, and your condition can continue to worsen. You can change your prescription over time to try and continuously combat the effects of cataracts, but eventually, the condition of your eyes may necessitate having to receive cataract surgery.
Currently, there are no treatment plans to prevent or slow cataract prevention. However, while there are no clinically proven approaches for cataract prevention, some prevention strategies can include: Decreasing or stopping smoking. Monitoring your exposure to sunlight through UV-blocking lenses.
Glare, or sensitivity to light, is another early symptom of cataracts. You may have trouble with bright sunlight and indoor lights that may appear with halos. You may also struggle to drive at night due to the glare of streetlights and oncoming headlights.
Although it's never too late to have a cataract removed, it is better to have cataracts removed while they are immature, as this reduces the length of surgery and the recovery time. Earlier removal also means that you avoid the significant visual impairment associated with very mature (hypermature) cataracts.
Some Don'ts: Things to Avoid
Avoiding eating and drinking before your surgery. Don't wear makeup to the surgery appointment, and avoid wearing makeup until your ophthalmologist allows it so that you can better prevent infection. Avoid getting irritants in your eyes.
Avoid bright unshaded central room lights and use blinds and net curtains to shield you from bright sunshine. Sitting with your back to the window when reading also helps to make the most of the sunlight.
What is the average age for cataract surgery? While many people are diagnosed with cataracts in their 40s, the average age for cataract surgery is 65. That said, there is no one age that's better for cataract surgery than others. In fact, the average age for cataract surgery has been decreasing over the past few years.
Age-related cataracts typically develop slowly, often taking several years or even decades to reach a stage where they significantly affect vision. In some cases, it could take 10 years or more for a cataract to progress to the point of causing blindness.
Prolonged exposure to the sun's ultraviolet rays can enhance cataract progression. During sunny days when you must be outside, try to wear sunglasses. For the same reasons as stated above, reducing the amount of ultraviolet light that reaches your eyes will help keep cataracts at bay.
Currently there is no natural cure for cataracts, and the only way to remove them is with surgery. However, ongoing research into nonsurgical treatments for cataracts is positive. Cataracts occur when the proteins in the eye's lens begin to break down and clump together. This causes a cloudy area to appear on the lens.
Stop smoking, reduce alcohol use, and manage health problems. Health issues like diabetes, as well as excessive alcohol use, can increase the likelihood of cataracts. Eat fruits and vegetables. A diet rich in vitamins and minerals is associated with a reduced risk of developing cataracts.
Surgery is the only way to get rid of a cataract, but you may not need to get surgery right away. Home treatment. Early on, you may be able to make small changes to manage cataracts.
Wearing sunglasses that protect your eyes from ultraviolet (UV) rays may help prevent or slow the development of cataracts. Ultraviolet B rays are especially harmful to your eyes, so it's important to look for glasses that provide this protection specifically.
Your surgery incisions will only take a few days to heal and close, but you should be careful not to get any water in your eye during your recovery period. You should always have your eyes closed when washing your face to avoid rubbing the eye.
Grade 3: Your cataract hardens even more, and your nucleus and the back of the eye are yellow or a reddish-brown color. Grade 4: Your cataract is very hard, and your nucleus and back of the eye are brownish-red or white. Grade 5: Your cataract is very hard and pushing into the eye.
It is common for individuals to experience blurred vision immediately after cataract surgery, but this typically subsides within a few days. Once the eye has healed but before the second procedure has taken place, patients may experience vision imbalance, also known as anisometropia.
Blurred vision is a common reaction to cataract surgery because your eyes need time to heal and adjust to the lens your doctor implanted.
Patients who have undergone Cataract surgery in one eye will have clearer vision compared to the affected eye which increases the pressure on the treated eye. The increased pressure on a single eye can be stressful.