Q: How can I know if my blurry vision is a sign of cataracts or normal aging?
A: If things start to look blurry, your first thought might be that you need glasses or contacts. If you already wear corrective lenses, you may wonder if it's time for a stronger prescription. However, if you're over the age of 40, there could be another reason for your blurry eyesight: cataracts.
Often thought of as a condition that affects only the elderly, cataracts can begin to cloud the eyes decades before your senior years. The cloudiness is caused by proteins in the lens breaking down and clumping together. Over time, the cloudy area becomes more severe. If left untreated, cataracts can lead to blindness. The only treatment is surgery.
A dilated eye exam is necessary to diagnose cataracts and determine how far they've progressed. You will be given eye drops that dilate your pupil. Afterward, your doctor will look inside your eyes for cataracts or other problems.
An ultrasound procedure is commonly used to remove the cataract, then an artificial lens is often implanted.
Standard lens implants provide a fixed focus. That means you will likely need some type of glasses after surgery.
Multifocal lens implants allow for clear vision at all distances and eliminate the need for glasses.
Toric implants are a third type of lens used to correct astigmatism. Patients who receive toric implants still need reading glasses.
Dr. Dennis Matzkin is an ophthalmology specialist with Allied Eye of Chattanooga and a member of the Chattanooga-Hamilton County Medical Society.
Contributed Photo / Dr. Dennis Matzkin