Is It Cataracts or Something Else? Vision Changes to Watch For

Cataracts—or, at least, age-related cataracts—are a common eye condition that affects virtually everyone who’s lucky enough to reach their twilight years. Once you hit the big five-oh, your eye doctor will actively be checking for any symptoms, with most people generally being diagnosed aged 60 plus.

The early signs of cataracts can be very similar to other eye conditions. While the initial stages of cataract formation are pretty much symptom-free, once they start to impact vision, they can mimic many other eyesight issues.

So, let’s look at what eye conditions can cause problems, as well as whether these are likely to be indicative of cataracts or perhaps of other eye conditions.

Common Vision Issues: Cataracts vs. Other Eye Conditions

A quick online search for the symptoms of cataracts will tell you that they typically cause:

• Blurred, cloudy, or other vision distortion.
• Colors appearing muted or yellowed.
• Seeing halos around lights.
• Difficulty seeing in low light.

The thing is, if you then search for the symptoms of glaucoma, for example, you’ll also see problems like blurring and halos around lights. Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) can also have similar symptoms, as can advancing diabetic retinopathy. And then there’s presbyopia, a condition where the eye lens becomes stiffer with age, causing issues with close-up vision. 

The thing is, any disruption of how light flows through the eye creates problems. There are only so many ways that the brain can interpret this, hence many conditions having similar symptoms. Therefore, the only way to be 100% sure that your changing or blurry vision causes are definitively diagnosed is by a suitably qualified eye care clinician (and no, that is never, ever Dr. Google!).

Some of the subtle differences between cataract issues and other conditions that your eye doctor will be looking out for include:

• Has the problem come on suddenly? Cataract symptoms develop slowly, usually over years or decades (or can be months, in some cases). Any problem that occurs over hours or instantly, such as blurred vision, seeing flashes of light, a dark shadow in your peripheral vision, pain, or anything else would warrant urgent assessment.
• Are the vision changes across the whole eye, at the edges, or in the center? The latter might be indicative of AMD, or a dark “curtain” sweeping down from the top or corner could be a detached retina.
• Blurred vision or other issues accompanied by pain or other signs of illness: Certain types of glaucoma can cause an intense headache and eye pain. Vomiting and nausea are also common. A combination of such problems with other sudden onset is a medical emergency that requires immediate treatment.
• Your vision problems are getting worse with age: Yes, this could absolutely be cataracts, but if it’s just a gradual increase in close-up vision, then it’s more likely to be presbyopia.

None of the above is trying to provide you with information to self-diagnose. The key to great ongoing eye health and vision is regular monitoring—AKA your annual or bi-annual eye checks—prompt diagnosis of any conditions, and intervening treatment if necessary. Oh, and not to ignore any changing symptoms, whatever your age or however recently you had an eye check.

Noticed a Change? Get Checked Out…

Whether the issue is the early signs of cataracts or another eye condition, it needs to be diagnosed. Not every onset of blurred vision is the sign of something ominous—it could be as simple as eye strain, tiredness, or that you’re spending far too much time looking at your cell (yes, we’re all guilty…).

And, if your symptoms are down to cataracts, then close monitoring is key to carrying out cataract surgery at the optimal time.

Find out more at https://www.westbocaeyecenter.com/services/cataract-surgery and call today to arrange a consultation.