Cataracts, a common eye condition with age, can severely hinder your loved one’s vision. Early detection is vital to prevent worsening vision. Tennessee Valley Eye Center excels in diagnosing and treating cataracts.
Cataracts occur when the eye’s lens becomes cloudy, affecting vision by blocking light to the retina. They can develop in one or both eyes and are a leading cause of vision problems worldwide. Types include nuclear, cortical, and posterior subcapsular, each with distinct effects. Tennessee Valley Eye Center uses advanced techniques and premium lenses to treat cataracts, improving vision and reducing the need for glasses.
Understanding Cataracts
Cataracts are an eye condition characterized by the clouding of the eye’s natural lens, which lies behind the iris and the pupil. This cloudiness obstructs the passage of light to the retina, leading to diminished vision. Cataracts can develop in one or both eyes and are one of the leading causes of vision impairment worldwide.
Types of Cataracts
There are three main types of cataracts:
- Nuclear cataracts
- Cortical cataracts
- Posterior subcapsular cataracts
Nuclear cataracts, associated with aging, affect the lens center and worsen vision over time. Cortical cataracts start at the lens edge, causing glare and contrast issues. Posterior subcapsular cataracts, linked to diabetes and steroids, rapidly impact reading and night vision.
Causes and Risk Factors
Cataracts mainly develop with aging as lens proteins break down and clump. Other factors include:
- Family history
- Medical conditions like diabetes
- Long-term corticosteroid use
- UV radiation
- Lifestyle factors such as smoking, poor diet, and excessive alcohol
Eye trauma, surgeries, and chronic inflammation also contribute to cataract formation.
Common Signs of Cataracts
Cataract symptoms start subtly and worsen over time, making early recognition crucial for timely treatment. Common signs include:
- Clouded vision: Proteins clump in the lens, blurring vision.
- Color fading or yellowing: Colors appear less vibrant or more yellow.
- Increased light sensitivity: Bright lights and glare become uncomfortable.
- Night vision difficulty: Reduced light to the retina hampers night vision.
- Halos around lights: Scattered light creates halos, especially at night.
- Frequent prescription changes: Vision prescriptions need frequent updates.
- Double vision in one eye: The cloudy lens distorts light, causing double vision.
How Cataracts Affect Daily Life
Cataracts can significantly affect daily life, making routine activities challenging and frustrating. In some cases, you may notice the signs of cataracts by how they affect your loved one’s daily routine.
Impact on reading and watching TV
Cataracts notably impact reading and watching TV by causing blurred vision and reduced contrast sensitivity. This makes it hard to see fine details, leading to eye strain when reading small print in
- Books
- Newspapers
- Digital devices
TV images appear less sharp, making it difficult to distinguish characters or text.
Challenges with driving, especially at night
Cataracts significantly affect driving with increased light sensitivity, glare, and halos around lights making night driving hazardous. Reduced vision in low light hampers reaction times to sudden changes like pedestrians or vehicles. Even in daylight, bright sunlight can cause discomfort and impair visibility, posing risks to both the driver and others.
Difficulty recognizing faces
Cataracts can also make recognizing faces a challenge. The clouded lens causes blurred vision, which interferes with the ability to see facial details clearly. This can lead to social difficulties and discomfort in public settings as recognizing friends, family, and acquaintances becomes harder.
Impaired ability to perform household chores
Daily household chores are also affected. Tasks that require clear vision can become more difficult, such as reading labels on packages, measuring ingredients, or seeing dirt and stains. This not only affects the efficiency with which these tasks are completed but can also pose safety risks, such as using the wrong ingredients or mishandling sharp objects.
When to Seek Medical Advice
Recognizing cataract symptoms is crucial for timely treatment, and regular eye exams are vital for early detection, especially for those over 60. Routine exams can identify cataracts before they significantly impact vision and quality of life.
Adults should have comprehensive eye exams every two years, with more frequent check-ups for those at higher risk or experiencing symptoms. Consult an eye doctor if cataracts interfere with daily activities like reading, driving, or recognizing faces. Immediate consultation is necessary for sudden vision changes.
A comprehensive eye exam includes tests for visual acuity, slit-lamp examination, retinal inspection, tonometry, and refraction. These detect cataracts, glaucoma, macular degeneration, and other eye health issues.
How Tennessee Valley Eye Center Can Help
Tennessee Valley Eye Center offers comprehensive cataract services to help your loved one regain clear vision.
Cataract Surgery: Using phacoemulsification, our skilled ophthalmologists remove the cloudy lens with ultrasonic vibrations and replace it with an intraocular lens (IOL). This standard procedure can correct nearsightedness or farsightedness, often providing good distance vision without glasses.
Custom Cataract Surgery: For greater visual freedom, custom surgery involves implanting a premium IOL, which can reduce reliance on glasses for activities like reading, driving, and sports. This option addresses presbyopia and astigmatism, offering enhanced vision at all distances.
Tennessee Valley Eye Center combines experienced ophthalmologists with state-of-the-art technology to deliver exceptional care.
Cataracts form when the eye’s lens becomes cloudy, hindering vision by obstructing light to the retina. They can affect one or both eyes and are a primary global cause of vision impairment. Types such as nuclear, cortical, and posterior subcapsular have varying impacts. Tennessee Valley Eye Center employs sophisticated techniques and premium lenses to enhance vision and minimize the reliance on glasses during cataract treatment.
Tennessee Valley Eye Center is Knoxville’s premier eye care facility, performing more eye surgeries than any other facility in the region. Our board-certified surgeons cover all ophthalmic subspecialties, including cataracts, cornea, glaucoma, retina, eyelid disorders and cancers, and eye muscle surgeries. We want you to feel as comfortable and confident as possible as you prepare for surgery. If you would like to discuss your surgery with us at any time, please do not hesitate to contact us.
