Cataract is a condition of the eye that can cause impaired vision and prolonged headaches. Cataracts are common among older people, if you are aging and have a problem with your vision, there is a high possibility that you might have cataracts. An eye examination is the easiest for you to diagnose whether you have cataract or not. A visual acuity test or a slit-lamp examination are some of the tests you can undertake. Cataract is a condition that has a few types of treatments. You must not be worried if you encounter it.

Treatment for cataracts

There are two different types to treat cataract, your doctor will prescribe you with a pair of numbered glasses that can help you fight the condition. If this does not work, you will have to undergo a surgery in your affected eye as a treatment for cataracts.

When you are undergoing the surgery, you must first consult your doctor. Get their advice on the surgery, see if it is ideal for your condition. If you can be treated with the help of glasses, then you must stick to them and avoid a surgery. If your cataracts grow and start to affect your lifestyle or interfere with your daily activities your doctor will suggest you undertake surgery as a treatment for cataracts. Reading and driving are two activities that work as indicators for surgery during cataract.

Cataracts, like most of the other medical conditions, worsens quicker in patients that have diabetes. It generally does not cause much harm to your eye, which means that a surgery might not be necessary. The ideal way for cataracts is to try and treat them with the help of medication and adopt surgery only if needed.

If you delay the surgery, it is most unlikely that it will affect your vision to a large extent. Along with that, pushing this type of treatment for cataracts does not mean your eyes will take longer to recover. You must take time, weigh the benefits and the risks associated with surgery and only then go ahead with it.

You can choose to push the surgery, and if you do so your doctor is most likely to suggest periodic follow-up exams that can help them understand the progress of your cataract. The frequency of these follow-up exams usually depends on the condition of your cataract.

Surgery

Even if you encounter cataract, here’s what you must know about the surgery.

This surgery includes the removal of the clouded lens in your eye and the replacement of a clear artificial lens with the positioning being similar to the existing lens. This lens is known as an intraocular lens and becomes a permanent part of your eye after the surgery.

In some cases, other related issues do not allow the use of an artificial lens. In such cases, contact lenses or eyeglasses are used to improve the vision after the cataract is removed. The surgery is safe, and the healing occurs within eight weeks of the surgery.