Have you received a diagnosis of having cataracts? Are you wondering when you will need to get them removed?
There are many reasons that patients and doctors make the decision that it is time to have your cataracts removed. Any kind of surgery can be scary.
You may be hesitant to get cataract surgery, but once they start impacting your life it’s worth it.
As a result of aging, it can be hard to determine if vision changes are because of age or because cataracts are developing. Most patients experience cataract growth over a period of years or even a decade.
Because of this, patients can usually wait until they need surgery. The best way to catch cataracts early on and diagnose them is to get frequent eye exams.
You should get an eye exam every two years until you’re 64 years old. Once you turn 65, you should start getting an eye exam every year. Keep reading to learn 4 reasons why cataract removal is necessary!
1. Both eyes have cataracts
If you have cataracts in both eyes, your eye doctor may recommend getting surgery on the more severe cataract first. For the best results, you need cataract surgery on both eyes separately.
Having cataract surgery on both eyes at the same time is dangerous and may lead to injury for patients. Some patients may not want to get cataract surgery on the second eye after they have it on the first eye.
They may think that their vision has improved enough but for the best quality of life, cataract surgery on both eyes is necessary.
2. Cataracts have started to impact your vision
Cataracts cause many changes to your vision. They can cause colors to look faded, you might see halos and glares around lights, and you may develop blurry or foggy vision.
To have a good understanding of your cataracts, your doctor will run a variety of tests. They will look at the thickness of your cataract as well as your glare and refraction test results.
Some patients experience relief from their cataracts by getting a new prescription. It allows them to see clearer.
But for most patients with cataracts, glasses are only a temporary solution. This means talking to your eye doctor and coming up with the best time to have cataract surgery.
3. Cataracts are affecting your quality of life
For most patients, when cataracts impact their ability to do the things they enjoy, they decide it’s time for cataract surgery. This includes your ability to enjoy hobbies, work, and complete detail-oriented tasks.
Surgery is the best option if glasses or contacts no longer help improve your vision. Without cataract surgery, you could get hurt because you cannot see clearly while walking or driving.
4. You have cataracts and another eye condition
Having cataracts and other conditions is difficult. For many patients, the best solution is cataract surgery to treat cataracts first.
Having cataracts can make it harder to treat your second condition. This way your eye doctor can treat both conditions and monitor the second one.
Do you think it’s time to get your cataracts removed? Schedule a cataract screening at Stahl Eyecare Experts in Manhattan, NY today!
Why wait if cataracts are only holding you back from living the life you love?
