Cataracts: What Your Eye Doctor Wants You to Know
Cataracts are a normal part of aging, but it's important to manage them with an eye doctor in order to preserve vision. At Total Vision Eye Health Associates in Port Orange, FL, our optometrists and staff are here to diagnose and treat cataracts to help you see better for longer.
What Are Cataracts?
Any clouding of the eye's lens is known as a cataract. Cataracts are a normal and natural part of aging for many people. Inside the eye is a lens that is made from protein and water. For most of life, the lens works much like a camera lens, allowing light to pass through in a way that allows the eye to focus light. With age, some of the proteins can clump up inside the lens, forming an increasingly opaque barrier. This clumping is a cataract.
There a number of risk factors that make people more likely to develop cataracts. Smoking, obesity, family history, diabetes, alcohol use, and severe nearsightedness and farsightedness are factors that increase a person’s chance of developing cataracts.
When cataracts begin to develop, many people don't even realize it. At times, vision may seem to cloud slightly, similar to looking through a dirty window. Over time, cataracts get worse, and can even lead to complete vision loss.
Optometry Treatment for Cataracts
Cataracts that are not severe can often be managed with lifestyle changes, such as adjusting the lighting in your home, using magnification tools, and getting a stronger eyeglass prescription. When these measures are no longer effective, it may be time to consider cataract surgery. While eye surgery can sound scary, the procedure for cataract removal is as safe as it is common. During surgery, an eye surgeon removes the lens of the eye. The lens is replaced with a clear piece of plastic, restoring vision and preventing cataracts from forming in the future. Most people still need to wear eyeglasses after cataract surgery, since the procedure does not correct nearsightedness or farsightedness.
Call an Optometrist at Total Vision Eye Health Associates
If you think you may be suffering from cataracts, or it's simply time for an eye exam, Total Vision Eye Health Associates is here to help. Conveniently located in Port Orange, we're proud to serve residents of Florida. Call our office today at (386) 767-4449 to set up your first appointment.