We all know that our vision will naturally deteriorate as we get older, but do you just need another glasses prescription or could cataract surgery be the answer?

You may be worried that your glasses or contacts just aren’t doing the job any more and that something else is going on. Simple, quick and painless cataract surgery could greatly improve your eyesight, restoring your vision and bringing your life back into focus.

Cataracts usually develop slowly over many years so it may be a while before you notice any symptoms or interference with your everyday activities. The right time to have cataract surgery is before your quality of life is detrimentally affected and your safety, and the safety of others, is compromised.

So how can you tell if you need cataract surgery?

Cataracts are not painful and don’t make your eyes red or irritated, but you’ll find yourself experiencing some of the following symptoms;

• blurred, cloudy or misty vision
• small spots or patches where your vision is less clear
• bright lights that are dazzling or uncomfortable to look at
• colours that look faded, or less clear, with a yellow or brown tinge
• difficulty seeing in dim or very bright light
• halos (circles of light) around bright lights such as car headlights
• double vision

These symptoms will undoubtedly be having an adverse affect on your overall sense of wellbeing. Perhaps you’re no longer enjoying your favourite pastimes or hobbies and simple, everyday things like cooking, doing the washing and watching television have become difficult.

Has it become impossible to perform close range tasks such as texting on your phone, sewing or reading a book? If so, cataract surgery could be the solution.

Safety concerns

Your independence can be compromised as you realise that something is not right with your vision and you feel unsafe.

Driving with cataracts is dangerous, but especially at night time when you may see halos around lights, making it hard to see clearly and drive safely. We strongly suggest that, for the safety of you and others, you ask a friend or family member to drive until you have had cataract surgery.

Cooking is also a concern as most cataract patients report double vision in one eye. The same goes for lifting and, in truth, almost any other activity. In addition, blurred vision makes moving around more challenging, increasing the risk of falling and injuring yourself.

However, rest assured that cataract surgery will give you your independence, and confidence, back.

Glasses just don’t do the job anymore

A clear sign that you have cataracts is that you’ll get to a point where your prescriptions keep changing, but neither glasses or contacts improve your eyesight. When this happens, your only recourse is cataract surgery.

Second sight

You may find that you experience a phenomenon known as ‘second sight’. Your vision temporarily improves with second sight, especially if you have nuclear cataracts that form in the centre of your lens. The sudden improvement in vision is short-lived and results in worsened vision later on. If you suddenly see more clearly after having had poor eyesight due to cataracts, it might be time for surgery.

If you’d like to discuss your symptoms further with a specialist, or have any other questions about when is the right time to have cataract surgery, please get in touch. We’d be delighted to help you improve your vision and, therefore, your quality of life.