When the lens of the eye becomes cloudy, that means a cataract has formed that will negatively impact your vision.

Older people are most commonly affected by cataracts; by age 80, over half of all Americans will either have had a cataract or had surgery to remove one. Cataracts are detected through a comprehensive eye exam.

Cataracts cannot spread from one eye to the next, but they can occur in either one or both eyes.

When symptoms begin to show, they could be improved with new glasses, better lighting, magnifying lenses, or anti-glare sunglasses. If these options don’t work, surgery is recommended. The surgery will remove the cloudy cataract lens and replace it with an artificial one.

Once a cataract begins to interfere with daily life, only then should it be removed. In fact, cataract removal surgery is a very common operation, and also one of the safest and most effective surgeries. About 90 percent of people undergoing cataract surgery report improved vision afterward.

The most common symptoms of a cataract are:

  • Cloudy/blurry vision
  • Faded colors
  • Halo or glare
  • Poor night vision
  • Double vision/multiple images in one eye
  • Eyeglasses or contact lens prescription changes

If you suffer from blurry vision or other symptoms of a cataract, contact Riverdale Ophthalmology today.