West Broward Eyecare Associates
Optometry located in Tamarac, FL
Cataracts are a common age-related condition that occurs when the lenses in your eyes become cloudy. The team at West Broward Eyecare Associates in Tamarac, Florida, offers expert diagnosis of cataracts and customized treatments to help you see clearly. If you’re due for an eye exam or have noticed that your vision looks blurry or faded, call West Broward Eyecare Associates or make an appointment online today.
Cataracts Q & A
As the lens in your eye gets cloudy, it turns into a cataract. In most cases, cataract development is very slow, taking many years or even decades before you notice the impact on your vision. Cataracts are almost always age-related and are very common. — over half of Americans over the age of 80 have cataracts.
The lenses in your eyes help focus light on your retina so you can see clearly. But, over time, the proteins in a lens start to break down and clump together on the lens, producing that cloudiness.
Many people begin to develop cataracts in their 40s but don’t have noticeable symptoms until their 60s. Your optometrist typically diagnoses cataracts long before you have symptoms. These include:
- Clouded vision
- Faded or yellowed colors
- Sensitivity to light
- Reduced night vision
- Double vision
The best way to monitor your eye health and find out if you have cataracts is to have regular eye exams. Even if you don’t wear glasses or contact lenses, you should have your eyes checked at least every two years.
What causes cataracts?
While cataracts are usually age-related, your risk of developing them increases if you:
- Have a family history of cataracts
- Spent a lot of time in the sun without UV blocking sunglasses
- Had a prior eye injury or surgery
- Have diabetes
In rare cases, a child could have congenital cataracts, or they could develop quickly after an eye injury.
How are cataracts treated?
The only treatment for cataracts is intraocular lens transplants. However, your doctor isn’t going to recommend surgery until your vision is impaired to the point that it can’t be corrected with glasses or contact lenses.
In many cases, your eye doctor can monitor your cataract development, and you never reach the point when you need surgery. In these cases, prescription glasses and using extra light allows you to see clearly.
However, if you need surgery, your optometrist at West Broward Eyecare Associates can provide referrals for the best optometrists in Broward County. They also coordinate care with your surgeon to ensure you have everything you need before, during, and after your surgery.
If you’re due for an eye exam or are concerned about cataracts, call West Broward Eyecare Associates or schedule your appointment online today.
