Cataracts are a clouding of the eye's natural lens that typically occurs due to aging, exposure to UV radiation, certain medications, and other underlying health conditions. While cataracts can significantly diminish vision, there are several ways to manage the symptoms until surgery becomes justified. These include wearing the most updated and accurate prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses, using magnifying readers or using a magnifying glass to read, as well as improving the lighting in your home with brighter light bulbs or using directional or goose neck lamps.
To protect your eyes from developing cataracts at an earlier age, it is essential to limit exposure to UV radiation by wearing UV protecting sunglasses, a hat with a brim, and by ensuring that your prescription glasses have the best UV protection. Similarly, wearing protective eyewear while engaging in certain activities such as using power tools or playing sports can help prevent eye injuries that can cause cataracts to form at an earlier age, while quitting smoking is another way to protect your eyes from cataracts as smoking tends to cause cataracts to form at an earlier age.
The only way to cure cataracts is through cataract removal surgery. Before undergoing surgery, however, it is important to discuss, with your doctor, how debilitating your vision loss from cataracts is, how the cataracts are affecting your vision and limiting your lifestyle, and compare the risks and benefits of surgery to the risks and benefits of doing nothing. When you decide to undergo cataract surgery, Dr. Wilkins, Dr. Sullivan, and your cataract surgeon will do their best to discuss what you need to do before, during, and after your cataract surgery, and the decisions you need to consider, to try to provide you with your most desired outcome.
Overall, using the precautionary measures mentioned above can help slow the progression of cataracts and preserve functional vision for a longer period of time. If you suspect you may have cataracts, are experiencing significant blur due to glare from sunlight or headlights, or if you are feeling uncomfortable driving at night, please call the office at 314-860-2020 to schedule your cataract evaluation with Dr. Wilkins or Dr. Sullivan.
BELOW, ARE IMAGES OF SEVERAL DIFFERENT TYPES OF CATARACTS THAT CAN AFFECT YOUR VISION, AND YOUR LIFESTYLE, IN VERY DIFFERENT WAYS.
BELOW YOU WILL SEE IMAGES OF (a)MILD CORTICAL SPOKE CATARACTS, (b)MODERATE NUCLEAR CATARACTS, AND (c)MODERATE POSTERIOR SUBCAPSULAR CATARACTS
THE IMAGE BELOW DEPICTS A MILD TO MODERATE CORTICAL SPOKE CATARACT THAT SHOULD ONLY MINIMALLY LIMIT THIS PATIENT'S NIGHT VISION.
THE IMAGE BELOW DEPICTS A MILKY NUCLEAR SCLEROTIC CATARACT THAT SHOULD SIGNIFICANTLY LIMIT THIS PATIENT'S VISION, CAUSING DIFFICULTIES READING, DISCERNING COLORS, AND DRIVING AT NIGHT.
THE IMAGE BELOW DEPICTS A DENSE POSTERIOR SUBCAPSULAR CATARACT THAT SHOULD SIGNIFICANTLY LIMIT THIS PATIENT'S VISION, CAUSING DIFFICULTIES SEEING JUST ABOUT ANYTHING AND REQUIRING EXCESSIVE LIGHT TO FUNCTION. THIS TYPE OF CATARACT IS OFTEN CAUSED BY LONG TERM USE OF ORAL OR NASAL STEROIDS.
