Cataracts can develop for a number of reasons, and the severity of your symptoms can vary. Of course, any time you notice changes to your vision, regardless of what you might believe to be the cause, you should consult your eye doctor.
If you are particularly concerned about your risk for developing cataracts due to age or other increased risk factors though, you might want to be aware of some of the most common signs and symptoms of cataracts so that you recognize their onset.
Cataract Symptoms
Still, cataract symptoms you may experience often include:
- Experiencing cloudy, blurry or dimmed vision
- Finding it increasingly difficult to see at night
- Developing a sensitivity to light and glare
- Developing a need to have brighter light for reading and other activities
- Seeing “halos” around lights
- Experiencing frequent changes in your eyeglass or contact lens prescription
- Developing double vision in a single eye
While recognizing these symptoms can help you detect cataracts, it’s important to note that routine visits to your optometrist are the best form of diagnosis. Because cataracts develop for different reasons, symptoms may not be noticeable to you in the earlier stages of formation. Sometimes the cloudiness in your vision caused by a cataract will only affect only a small part of your eye’s lens, so you may be unaware of any vision loss. Subsequently, you might not notice any changes to your vision until the cataract has become large enough to cloud more of your lens and further distort the light that passes through. Alternatively, with early detection through regular eye exams, your eye doctor can monitor and treat your condition more effectively.
If you think you might be exhibiting cataract symptoms or if you need to schedule an exam with Dr. Ryczek, call our St. Petersburg optometry office at 727-327-8855 today.
