Cataracts: From Early Detection to Treatment

A cataract is a cloudy area in your eye’s lens, which is behind the colored part (the iris) of your eye. Of course, not everyone ends up with cataracts, but advancing age is the most common catalyst. They tend to start to develop between ages 40 and 50, and they can form in one or both eyes. You may not notice when a cataract starts to form because it may affect only a small area of a lens. Eventually, though, the cataracts expand, making your vision blurry, hazy and/or less colorful.

At the office of Blairsville, your healthy vision is our top priority. Whatever you need—a routine eye exam, eyeglasses, prescription sunglasses or contact lenses—you’ll find our staff to be skillful and personable. We’ll help you make informed decisions about the procedures and products that are best for you.

Cataracts are the result of the breaking down and clumping of proteins and fibers within the lenses. The clumps—i.e., clouding—dulls the light that passes through the lens. People developing cataracts will notice their vision becoming fuzzy, less sensitive to colors and poor at night. They will also see glare or halos around lamps, sunlight or headlights. Having to frequently change their eyeglass or contacts prescriptions isn’t uncommon, and double vision (two images of the same thing) could also arise. 

People in the early stages of cataracts can be assisted by brighter lighting, magnifying glasses and updated eyewear prescriptions. If the cataracts are increasingly impairing your vision, diminishing your quality of life and posing safety hazards, an optometrist will recommend that an ophthalmologist surgically remove them. 

During the procedure, the ophthalmologist removes the clouded lens and replaces it with a new, artificial lens (called an intraocular lens). Surgical cataract removal is one of the most commonplace, dependable and successful kinds of surgeries in the United States. 

The office of Blairsville is focused on maintaining your optimal eye health and quality of vision. We are committed to excellence by providing compassionate care through our state-of-the-art diagnostic services and superior products. Please call us today to arrange an appointment.