Treating Cataract-Related Vision Loss

Cataracts are often the result of advancing age. However, they can also be caused by certain medications, eye injuries, and even excessive sun exposure. A cataract is a cloudy or opaque section of the lens of your eye. The symptoms of cataracts may include blurred, double, or cloudy vision, poor night vision, seeing halos around lights, and sometimes total vision loss. Here are some options to treat cataract-related vision loss.

Home Treatment Options 

When your cataracts are still in the early stages, there are some changes you can make at home to help you see better. These interventions include using brighter lighting when reading or working at home, using a magnifying glass when reading, and wearing sunglasses to cut down on glare. In addition, a new corrective lens prescription can help you see better, especially if your cataracts are small.

Other interventions that may help slow the progression of cataract-related vision loss include not smoking, eating a diet rich in fruits and vegetables, and managing your chronic health conditions, such as diabetes. Also, if you take aspirin on a regular basis, ask your primary care doctor if you can take an alternative medicine because it is thought that excessive aspirin use may contribute to cataract formation.

Cataract Surgery With IOC Lens Implant

If conservative methods of treatment are ineffective in managing your cataracts, then your eye doctor may recommend surgery. Cataract surgery can dramatically restore your vision by removing the cloudy lens of your eye and replacing it with a clear intraocular (IOC) lens implant. During cataract surgery, your doctor will use a special instrument to break down the cataract into small pieces so that it can be easily extracted from the eye.

After the cataract has been removed, a clear intraocular lens implant will be inserted. Cataract surgery is a safe procedure and is performed in an outpatient surgical center or outpatient department at a hospital. It requires only a local anesthetic, which means that you will be awake and alert during the procedure.

You can return home shortly after your surgery because it does not require an overnight hospital stay. You will need to wear an eye shield over your eye to protect it from injury, which your doctor will remove at your postoperative visit. 

If you are experiencing any of the above symptoms of cataracts, make an appointment with your eye doctor. After your comprehensive examination, they will develop a treatment plan to help prevent cataract-related vision loss. 

For more information, contact an eye doctor and ask about vision loss treatment.


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