It can be scary to find out you have eye problems. There’s no one who would ever want to lose their sight. But problems with your eyes or your vision are tricky things to fix or address. Sometimes they could be corrected with eyewear or contacts, but other times, it may not be as simple as that. What if your vision starts to get cloudy or unclear? That may be a dangerous warning sign that you may have a cataract.
What are cataracts?
No, cataracts aren’t life-threatening, but they have to be addressed as soon as they’re detected. They may start off not disturbing your otherwise normal vision, but if it is allowed to develop further, you may become effectively blind. Cataracts are slow to develop and sometimes difficult to spot, so if you see the warning signs, you should act quickly and call up a good eye doctor in Singapore to attend to your needs.
There are many ways that cataracts can develop, but in essence, it refers to the clouding of the lens of your eye. People who have cataracts may report having blurry vision, almost akin to looking through the lens of a frosted or fogged up glass. It can interfere with your quality of life by making it next to impossible for you to sight faraway objects, discern patterns, read, or see signs, drive or even perform anything that requires hand-eye coordination.
Suspect that you may need cataract surgery in Singapore? Here are the most common symptoms of cataracts to watch out for.
- Blurry, foggy, or clouded vision.
- Need for brighter lighting to perform your activities.
- Increasing difficulty in seeing at night.
- Fading of colours (or differences in the way you see colours and shades)
- Increasing sensitivity to bright lights
- Seeing glare from oncoming lights
- Diplopia in the eye with cataracts (this condition is also known as double vision, which means that you see two images of a single object)
Who is affected? What can make you more prone to developing cataracts?
Cataracts are formed when the proteins and fibres in the lens of your eye break down, causing haziness in the eye. They are much more common in elderly folk than in younger people, which suggests that this condition is a sign of ageing or slow exposure over long periods of time. You can also develop cataracts due to accidents or injuries.
Another way that you can be vulnerable to cataracts is if you have certain inheritable genetic diseases. Some families may be more prone to cataracts because of this. Cataracts can also be a cause of past eye conditions or even a side effect of other eye surgeries.
There are also certain factors or habits that make you more susceptible to cataracts. If you have conditions like diabetes, if you’re obese, or if you have high blood pressure, you can find yourself more prone to developing cataracts. People who smoke, are exposed to UV radiation or direct sunlight constantly, or drink alcohol excessively are also at higher risk of developing cataracts.
If you are in any of the above vulnerable groups, it may be a good idea for you to start seeking an eye doctor in Singapore to address the possibility.
How does one treat cataracts?
At first, dealing with cataracts may be as simple as turning up the lighting and wearing prescription eyewear. But if your cataracts start interfering with your quality of life and affecting your ability to perform everyday tasks, then you may want to consider getting surgery.
But before you start looking up how much cataract surgery will cost in Singapore, don’t wait until it gets serious. If you know you’re at risk of developing cataracts, you should develop some good habits in order to lessen the chance of development.
Here are some of the things you can do for cataract prevention.
1) Start eating healthy or planning a healthy routine. Remember, people who have certain health conditions or disorders are more prone to cataracts. Avoiding this by keeping track of your overall health is a surefire way of beating cataracts. In general, adding a lot of superfoods such as vegetables and fruits can work wonders in ensuring you have the necessary nutrients to beat back cataracts. This is especially important as you age.
2) Quit smoking and limit your drinking. Allowing bad chemicals and other substances in your body such as nicotine or alcohol might not do anything for you in the short term, but there are serious long term consequences for doing this. Think to yourself carefully if your eyesight is worth sacrificing for the occasional gratification.
3) Minimising eye exposure to sunlight. We all know that extreme sunlight can be damaging to your eyes, but you don’t need to look directly into its glare to feel the effects of it. Protect your eyes as much as possible when you’re out and about. Even a simple thing such as the wearing of protective eyewear like sunglasses can do wonders.
4) Go to the eye doctor regularly. If you’re at risk of developing cataracts, then the trip to the eye doctor for an eye examination is a no-no. Have regular appointments with the doctor so you can be updated on the state of your eyes and whether you have vision problems.
Contact Nova Eye Centre to get in touch with an eye specialist in Singapore. We address all kinds of eye problems and help you with any concerns regarding your vision.