
You would be hard pressed to find anyone who looks forward to surgery, so people often search for alternatives. When it comes to cataracts, the need for surgery is based largely on your cataract’s stage of development and its impact on the quality of your daily life.
Early-Stage Cataracts May Not Require Surgery
In the early stages of development, cataracts produce symptoms that some people find livable, at least for a while. Cataract symptoms – including, cloudy or blurred vision, difficulty seeing in low light, glare, light sensitivity, faded colors and seeing halos around lights – can be minimal at first. Prescription eyeglasses or contact lenses may help to improve your vision at this stage.
Cataract Symptoms Always Get Worse
Cataracts are progressive, meaning they get worse over time. Cataracts are caused by a breakdown of the proteins that make up the eye lens, most often related to aging, making the lens thicker and less transparent. This process cannot be reversed or paused. As the cataracts progress, patients experience more pronounced symptoms. Driving, reading, watching TV and more become difficult or impossible. Left untreated, cataracts can leave a person completely unable to see.
Watch Out for False Cataract Remedies
In searching for alternatives to cataract surgery, some people fall victim to false claims of “cataract eye drops” that can dissolve away cataracts. Unfortunately, the science doesn’t support that. As explained above, cataracts are a breakdown of the proteins that make up the eye lens itself. The lens is irreparably damaged, not just coated with some substance that can be dissolved away.
Surgery is the Only Effective Cataract Treatment
The only effective way to treat cataracts is to surgically replace the damaged natural eye lens with an artificial lens implant. The surgery can be conducted using traditional surgical techniques or laser-assisted methods. Laser-assisted cataract surgery is pain-free, stitch-free and dramatically cuts down on recovery time. Best of all, after surgery, the cataract can never return.
If you or someone you love is experiencing cataract symptoms, contact North Florida Cataract Specialists and Vision Care to schedule an examination. Our ophthalmologists and eyecare team are leaders in the diagnosis and treatment of cataracts, leveraging decades of experience and the best technology to deliver reliable patient outcomes. Call us today at 352-373-4300.