Eye Doctor for Cataracts in Cape Coral

Are you and your friends getting to be “of a certain age”? If you are age 60 or over, you and your friends may be talking about cloudy vision caused by a cataract. If you suspect you have cataracts, it is time to see an eye doctor in Cape Coral. Look no further than Elmquist Eye Group, southwest Florida’s trusted name in comprehensive eye care.

Vision changes

In the early stages, cataracts often have no visible signs. Most people experience slight changes in vision which they just attribute to normal vision shifts. They never suspect that a cataract might be the cause. Rather than being a disease, cataracts are a natural part of aging. As a person ages, proteins in the eye break down and deposit on the eye lens. Over time as these proteins clump together, they cause light to scatter rather than focus on the lens.

By age 40, about 20 percent of adults will have started to develop a cataract in one or both eyes. Cataracts usually progress in your fifties and after age 60 may be affecting vision. Both genetics and lifestyle factors can speed up this progression, but cataracts do generally progress very slowly. As your cataract progresses, you may notice one or more of the following signs.

First you may experience an increase in light sensitivity, particularly in sunlight or bright indoor lights. Are you squinting more often? This may be a sign. You may see halos or glare around bright lights or lights at night, particularly while driving, and your nighttime vision may be gradually worsening. You may have cloudy vision or see fuzzy spots in your vision. Many of our patients describe their vision as if they are looking through a dirty window or a waterfall.

How do I fix a cataract?

Cataracts progress slowly and changes are gradual. At first, our eye care professionals can make more frequent adjustments to your prescription, but eventually, surgery will be needed. Just remember that cataracts left untreated can lead to blindness, so surgery is important. Cataract surgery is safe and quick. The surgeon removes the clouded lens and replaces it with a lens implant called an intraocular lens (IOL).

Your best bet is to come see us for an eye exam. We will check for cataracts and other eye issues like glaucoma or age-related macular degeneration during your regular annual eye exam visits. If we detect any issues, we have several other tests specifically designed for cataracts and other eye diseases so that we can make a thorough diagnosis and develop a treatment plan.

If you have experienced any of the above cataract symptoms, come see our eye doctor in Cape Coral at Elmquist Eye Group. Eye exams are a foundational part of your health care when it comes to cataracts. What are you waiting for? Contact us today.