Mr Venki Sundaram
Consultant Ophthalmic Surgeon
MD FRCOphth MRCOphth BMBCh BSc Harpenden / Cobham Clinic: 01582 714451 Bushey: 0208 901 5561

How to Treat the Early Stages of Cataracts

lady using a laptop

Did you know cataracts can affect anyone? It might be common to associate this condition with people who are aged 60 and above, but even people in their 20s and 30s can develop cataracts.

What are the early symptoms of cataracts?

A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye, a natural aging process that occurs in all eyes over a certain age. Having an understanding of the symptoms and signs of cataracts is really important in helping you treat the condition. Here are some of the early cataract signs to be aware of:

Blurry vision – reading and seeing the TV clearly, or recognising road signs whilst driving may become more challenging.

Finding it hard to see at night – it’s hard to notice this during the daytime, but cataracts can cause your vision to become darker or dimmer over time. You may also see slight tinges of yellow or brown in your vision too.

Increased light sensitivity – if you find yourself squinting or having to close your eyes at bright lights, this discomfort might be a sign of cataracts.

Appearance of halos and glare – glare and ringlets around bright sources of light may appear in your vision due to cataracts causing the light passing through to be diffracted. This can be really noticeable at nighttime with car headlights and street lights, and also during the day in bright sunshine.

Treating the early signs of cataracts

woman wearing sunhat

Unfortunately, cataract is a condition that’s irreversible. However, even though there are no definitive methods to prevent cataracts, there a few things you can do that may help slow down the progression of cataracts:

Having a healthy diet – eating plenty of fruit and vegetables is really important for getting enough vitamins and nutrients which are essential for maintaining the health of your eyes.

Wear sunglasses or a hat – this can help to protect your eyes from having too much sun exposure.

Regular eye examinations – doing this will give you peace of mind and reassurance that the progression of cataracts is being tracked and you can get the treatment required before symptoms become more serious.

When to consider cataract surgery

If you feel as though your condition is getting worse and beginning to interfere with your quality of life or ability to drive, it might be worth considering cataract surgery.

At Herts Eye Surgeon, we ensure Excellence in Eye Care at every step of your journey, providing world-class cataracts surgery to help treat & restore the vision to thousands of our patients.

To book your initial consultation, speak to a member of our team today.