In Houston, there is so much to love at any age! There’s the Space Center that lets you get an up-close and personal look at our space program or the Downtown Aquarium filled with shark tanks, touch pools, and plenty of tropical fish.
If you have noticed vision changes begin to impact your ability to enjoy exploring Houston, take time to enjoy hobbies, and affect your quality of life, it’s important to see your eye doctor to diagnose the cause of your vision loss.
As we age, our vision begins to slowly change. If you’ve noticed your vision isn’t quite what it used to be, you might have cataracts. Keep reading for 8 signs it’s time to consider cataract surgery in Houston!
1. Everything is yellow or brown tinted
Seeing is one of the most important senses we have. It’s what allows us to communicate with the world around us. Without sight, it’s like your soul is aching.
So when everything you see seems to be brown or yellow tinted, you know it’s not normal. Colors when you have cataracts could look muddy, rather than clear and vibrant.
It can be like looking through a dirty window whenever you try to see! If you do have cataracts, seeing everything like this only gets worse. The solution: cataract surgery.
2. Up close tasks like sewing, reading, or texting have become impossible
Many people assume that cataracts only impact older people, but that’s not true. What many people don’t realize is cataracts take a long time to develop. We’re talking years, if not decades.
A cataract could begin developing in your forties, but you may not notice it. Cataracts only become a problem when they interfere with your everyday life.
If you find up-close tasks have become more difficult, that’s a likely sign you have cataracts. This can include things like:
● sewing
● reading
● texting on your phone
● checking price tags while shopping for clothes
3. Driving at night becomes dangerous
Driving, to many people, is critical to independence. But with cataracts, it can become dangerous, especially if you’re driving at night.
Cataracts can cause light sensitivity, glare, and halos. With a cataract, oncoming headlights may blind you, making you a liability on the road.
If you find that driving at night no longer feels safe, stop and see your eye doctor immediately! Driving with cataracts at night could result in an accident or tragedy if they have begun to cause these symptoms.
After cataract surgery, your vision will be corrected, allowing you to get back on the road safely.
4. Your prescription won’t stop changing
As we get older, it seems natural that our prescription for glasses or contacts changes over time. But if your prescription fluctuates and won’t stop changing, you could have a cataract.
What’s more, if you have a cataract, your fluctuating vision will get worse, not better. You’ll reach a point where contacts and glasses will no longer be able to correct your vision.
When this happens, you should have cataract surgery. It’s only with cataract surgery that your vision can get fixed and return to normal!
5. Colors lose their luster and look faded
Another frustrating sign you have cataracts is everything looks faded. This could mean you see things as faded and dirty looking at the same time.
Many people who have untreated cataracts end up feeling lonely or depressed. Seeing a world that’s devoid of color can make life feel like it’s passing you by.
The only way to treat cataracts is by undergoing cataract surgery. With cataract surgery, your cataract and natural lens get removed from your eye. They are then replaced with an artificial lens, allowing you to see clearly! Say hello to seeing vibrant colors once more.
6. You suddenly start seeing everything in doubles
Like driving at night, another cataract symptom that is concerning is double vision. With double vision, you should see an eye doctor as soon as possible.
Double vision can also be a symptom caused by other eye conditions, and it is important to determine the source. If you have cataracts, you’ll likely only have double vision in one eye.
If you are experiencing double vision in both eyes, you could have another condition. The best thing to do is see your eye doctor to determine if it’s a cataract or something more serious.
Living with double vision makes completing any activity more difficult. You should avoid cooking, cleaning, and lifting while you have double vision.
If you have cataracts, you can complete these tasks after cataract surgery!
7. Your vision becomes blurry
Some of the symptoms of cataracts can happen at the same time, like blurry vision and double vision. With blurry vision, this is another potentially dangerous situation.
If your vision becomes blurry, seeing can be a struggle. Even moving around your own home can feel like navigating a battlefield! With blurred vision, you may be more likely to fall and injure yourself.
Your eye doctor can confirm if you have cataracts and if you need cataract surgery. Many people find that after cataract surgery, they have better sight than ever before!
8. You need more light to complete tasks
If performing regular everyday tasks in low lighting becomes progressively more difficult, it may be a sign that your eyes are developing cataracts. It is common to need brighter light to be able to do things like read, craft, or use a computer.
Oh, and remember when we were talking about how cataracts cause light sensitivity? Needing more light to complete tasks is just another reason cataracts can be frustrating! With cataracts that have fully developed, light sensitivity can become painful.
Luckily, there is a solution! Getting cataract surgery to remove your cataract fixes your light sensitivity and glare!
Bottom line: if you have cataracts, you owe it to yourself to have them removed! Schedule a cataract screening with Diagnostic Eye Center in Houston today to help diagnose your vision problems and begin your path to clear vision.
After all, cataract surgery is one of the most performed procedures in the world for a reason! It’s low risk and performed on millions of people, every year. Isn’t it time to see the world again?
