I’ve Got Cataracts. Can I Still Drive?  

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Many people, especially older adults, suffer from cataracts. Cataracts start out by causing minimal interference with your vision, but eventually cataracts can cause serious vision problems or even blindness. If you think you might be suffering from cataracts, work with your eye doctor in Riverdale NJ to get a diagnosis and treatment.

What Are Cataracts?

A cataract is a fogging of the lens of the eye. In the earliest stages, a person with cataracts may not even know they have cataracts. Seeing your eye doctor can help you catch this problem when it’s in the earliest stages. Some early signs of cataracts include:

  • Colors look faded or yellowed
  • Vision is cloudy or blurry
  • Lights have a halo around them
  • Sensitivity to glare and bright lights

In the early stages, most people don’t need cataract treatment, although some people require a special eyeglasses prescription to clarify their vision. It’s only after cataracts start negatively impacting quality of life that eye doctors start to think about treating cataracts with stronger measures.

Can I Still Drive If I Have Cataracts?

You can still drive with cataracts if your eye doctor says that it’s safe. Before your eye doctor gives you the permission to drive, they must assess your visual acuity and, if you need a new glasses prescription, they must ensure that you have the proper prescription to see.while driving. When you have cataracts, it’s important to see your eye doctor on a regular basis.

Problems you may experience while driving include:

  • Intense glare from headlights
  • Colors look faded and are difficult to distinguish
  • Objects look blurry
  • Low vision at night
  • Double vision

Can I Get Treatment for My Cataracts?

There is treatment for cataracts. Your eye doctor can determine when you need cataract surgery in order to drive safely. If you feel like your vision is too poor to drive, talk to your eye doctor for an assessment.

Need Cataract Treatment? Contact Riverdale Vision Care

If cataracts are interfering with your quality of life, cataract treatment in Riverdale NJ can help you see more clearly once again. Contact Riverdale Vision Care to find out more about cataract treatment. Call today to make an appointment.

 

Recognizing the Early Signs of Cataract Development

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Globally, eye cataracts rank as the main reason for blindness in individuals who are over the age of 55. According to projections provided by The National Eye Institute, by 2050 the number of individuals in the United States with this condition is expected to double from 24.4 million to around 50 million.

Recognizing the Early Signs of Cataract Development

A cataract is an opaque area that develops in the clear crystalline lens of the eye. Cataracts can develop in one eye or in both eyes. Despite the fact that cataracts are a common condition, the majority of cases do not become evident until they have progressed to the point where the patient’s eyesight is affected.

Signs and symptoms of cataract development:

Blurry vision is usually the first symptom of cataracts. If left untreated, as the cataracts continue to develop, the vision becomes blurrier and the clear crystalline lens begins to cloud.

Once the clear crystalline lens becomes clouded, color perception decreases. The color white will appear more yellow and the other colors, in general, will lose their vibrance.

Light and glare sensitivity occurs when the cataract interrupts the ability of the light to enter the eye and follow a clear path to the retina. The absence of this clear path causes the light to scatter. As the light emanates from headlights, lamps and the sun, individuals with cataracts will experience a fanning out of the light, which is referred to as a halo.

Trouble reading fine print can be a symptom of cataracts. The clear crystalline lens is comprised mostly of protein and water. A healthy lens allows light to pass through, however, if a cataract develops, it clumps these proteins together negatively affecting the ability of the eye’s refractive mirror to discern small print.

Treating Cataracts

Since cataracts can be treated, once the signs and symptoms become evident, make an appointment with an experienced Optometrist. The Optometrist can perform several tests to determine if the issues being experienced are due to cataracts. If they are, the doctor creates a custom-designed treatment plan to manage the condition. When cataracts are severe, surgical intervention may be required. The Optometrist may recommend that the patient visit an Ophthalmologist for an evaluation.

If you reside in or around Riverdale, New Jersey, and you have noticed changes in your vision, it is vital that you have your eyes examined promptly. An Optometrist at Riverdale Vision Care can examine your eyes to determine if you have cataracts, glaucoma or if there is some other issue that is affecting your eyesight.

To make an appointment with one of the experienced, caring Optometrists at Riverdale Vision Care, call 973-248-0060 today.