Cataracts develop when your eye lens becomes clouded. As a result, you are likely to suffer from blurry vision, the most common symptom of the eye condition. Over time, as the eye clouding develops or progresses, less light can enter your eye up to the retina, making your vision more blurry and worse. Your doctor is likely to recommend cataract surgery to treat the problem.

Causes of Cataracts

Cataracts develop when the lens of your eye becomes clouded because of protein buildup. Progression of the clouding can result in blurry vision and eventually sight loss. Cataracts usually develop during old age. However, other risk factors can cause their development.

Health problems and certain genetic disorders increase your risk of developing cataracts. Past eye surgery, eye conditions, or illnesses like diabetes can also increase your risk of developing cataracts. Using certain medications like steroids for the long term can cause cataract development.

Symptoms of Cataracts

Cataracts develop slowly, and you are likely to be unaware that you have the problem until your cataracts begin to block light from entering your eye. Below are signs and symptoms that show you have cataracts:

• Blurry, cloudy, filmy, or foggy vision.
• Alteration in how your eyes see color.
• Double vision.
• Contact lenses’ or eyeglasses’ inability to function well.
• Eye sensitivity to glare.
• Older people experience nearsightedness.

Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery works by removing the clouded lens of your eye and replacing it with an artificial one. An ophthalmologist or an eye doctor performs the surgery on an outpatient basis. During the procedure, your ophthalmologist will dilate your pupils using eye drops. Your eye doctor will give you a local anesthetic to numb the procedure site. Your doctor can also give you a sedative to make you relax during the whole surgery.

Your ophthalmologist will remove the clouded lens of your eye and replace it by implanting a clear artificial lens. There are other cases where surgery can get done by removing the affected lens without replacing it with an artificial lens. 

How Cataract Surgery Helps Blurred Vision

Removal of the clouded lens during cataract surgery helps clear the blurry vision effect in your sight. In addition to this, surgery has the following benefits for blurred vision:

• Clear vision without the use of contact lenses or prescription glasses. Depending on the type of artificial lens implanted by your eye doctor, your vision can be better than it has ever been. Your surgeon can use intraocular lens implants that can correct your vision entirely without the use of prescription glasses or lenses.

• Protects your eye health. Cataracts increase your risk of developing other eye problems that can blur your vision more. Eye conditions like glaucoma, a diabetic eye, and other severe eye conditions can result from cataracts. Cataract surgery can protect your eye health and prevent further damage from happening. 

• Improved quality of life. Blurry vision caused by cataracts makes it difficult to do your day-to-day tasks, leisure activities, or the things you take delight in doing. Inability to do your work and the things you love can take a mental and emotional toll on you. Successful cataract surgery can boost the quality of your life by enabling you to do your tasks with ease.

For more on cataract surgery, visit Eastside Eye Physicians at our office in Shelby Township or St. Clair Shores, Michigan. You can call (586) 247-2020 or (586) 200-1905 today to schedule an appointment.