Qamer JavedCataracts are quite widespread, and they occur more often later in life. It is not possible to see clearly if the lens of the eye is changed or becomes cloudy, and everything becomes blurry. It is, therefore, prudent to look for signs that will help one identify that they are developing cataracts. From the list of symptoms mentioned above, the following are five significant ones that should alert one that they may be developing cataracts.
1. Blurred Vision
Some of the first symptoms of cataracts are night blindness and cloudy vision. When these lenses become cloudy, much like our car windshields when they gather fog, your vision becomes blurry. This cloudiness usually develops in stages; comparatively often, the process starts from a portion of the lens and later evolves. Headaches or nausea, blurred vision, difficulty driving, and even recognizing close friends and family members. As mentioned earlier, loss of vision may be caused by many factors, so if this symptom is persistent, one should visit an eye doctor. As cataracts progress, activities, including reading and operating in bright light, tend to grow more difficult because of the opacity of the lens. Finding and treating problems at the outset is vital to stop vision impairment from becoming worse and leading to total blindness without treatment.
2. Sensitivity to Light
Another recognizable early sign of cataracts is the reaction of the patient to light, particularly bright sunlight or lit-up indoor lights. Some of the symptoms people with cataracts present are light sensitivity and even experiencing pain in their eyes. This makes it most difficult during nighttime due to the reflected glare from the headlamps of approaching cars. Cataracts also tend to prism light coming in through the eye, and this sensitivity increases as the disease advances. An increase in sensitivity to light can make routine life tasks like driving at night or staying outside on sunny days uncomfortable as well as dangerous. As cataracts worsen, a lot of individuals will start to notice halos around bright lights, which adversely affects their vision and lifestyle.
3. Difficulty Seeing at Night
Injury of the lens in the eyes often occurs by the development of opaque film over the lens, which interferes with vision, especially at nighttime. This is perhaps most manifest when driving, as this or that light source – be it street lamps or car headlights – seems particularly dazzling or accompanied by halos. Night vision, too, may be affected; objects in areas with low-light conditions, for instance, rooms with minimal lighting, will be difficult to see. If you now require more increased light exposure during nighttime than the previous years, it could be an early sign that cataracts are developing in your eyes. As cataracts develop further, finding your way in lower light environments can become significantly more difficult, raising the danger of accidents or falls. Finding it difficult to see at night can be one of the key disruptive symptoms, driving people to explore cataract treatment options.
4. Seeing Halos Around Lights
Some of the other symptoms of cataracts include seeing lights, stars or rings around them. This is because cataracts are an obstruction that distorts the light entering the eye, producing circles or rings around the source of light. These halos may be easily seen at night or in conditions that entail low levels of light, terms that make driving particularly risky. As the cataracts progress, these halos become larger, all of which are signs that the condition is worsening. The symptoms of cataracts can include an increase in the brightness of lights, which can complicate concentration and cause more visual discomfort.
5. Fading or Yellowing of Colors
Another symptom of cataracts is that any color seems to be lighter or yellow in appearance. This occurs because the lens becomes cloudy, thus dimming the light in a way that alters colors. You may start seeing that everything is a little less colorful than before, or perhaps whites appear to be yellow. Cataracts in the early stages may also manifest itself as a gradual change of color vision. Cataract worsening results in yellowing of the lens, making colors seem duller and less bright while also complicating the recognition of like shades. The redefined meaning of color you are experiencing may affect tasks like choosing clothes or reading indications and could seriously deteriorate without medical treatment.
Conclusion
Cataracts are a gradual disease that reduces the quality of your vision and starts to affect the quality of your life. In a situation where you have seen slight changes in vision, such as blurred vision, sensitivity to light, poor vision at night, circles around the light, or faded colors, you get to see a doctor. Cataracts can be treated well if detected early, hence the importance of going for an eye check-up.
