While complete vision loss is one possible outcome of cataracts, it is not inevitable. Cataracts develop slowly, in stages, and are often diagnosed and treated before they begin to cause vision loss.
To better understand how and when cataracts can cause vision loss, keep reading to learn more about cataracts, the stages of cataracts, and how to prevent vision loss from cataracts!
What Are Cataracts?
Cataracts occur when proteins inside the lens of the eye collect into clumps. These clumps of protein cloud the naturally clear lens of the eye, causing blurry vision.
Aging is the most common cause of cataracts. The formation of cataracts is most often a normal part of the eye’s aging process.
Symptoms of cataracts include clouded or blurry vision, night blindness, difficulty seeing in low light, sensitivity to bright light and glare, seeing halos around lights, changes to the appearance of the pupils, and lenses that appear yellow or white. Cataracts develop in four stages: early, immature, mature, and advanced.
It often takes many years for cataract symptoms to seriously impair a person’s vision. Even if diagnosed early, untreated cataracts may not cause total vision loss until a person is much, much older.
However, it should be noted that not everyone’s cataracts develop along the same timeline.
What Are the Stages of Cataracts?
To better understand vision loss from cataracts, here is what you might expect from the four stages of cataracts:
Stage One: Early Cataracts
In the early stage of cataracts, there may be no changes, or only very slight changes, to the quality and clarity of your vision. You might start to experience very mild symptoms, like eye strain or seeing halos around lights.
Early cataracts are usually not noticeable to the naked eye. They are most often diagnosed by an eye doctor during a routine comprehensive eye exam.
Stage Two: Immature Cataracts
When cataracts advance to stage two, symptoms usually become more noticeable, and the natural lens of your eye may start to appear cloudy.
Common visual issues at this stage can include blurred vision, mild night blindness, increased sensitivity to bright lights or glare, or instances of double vision. While these issues may be bothersome, they generally do not limit daily activities.
Stage Three: Mature Cataracts
At stage three, mature cataracts can cause significantly more noticeable visual impairment. Engaging in everyday activities like driving or watching television might become challenging.
The symptoms of mature cataracts are more severe and usually cannot be managed with visual aids, like brighter lighting or stronger eye prescriptions. The naturally clear lens of the eye is usually white or dark yellow.
Stage Four: Advanced Cataracts
By the time cataracts reach stage four, they are likely to have completely covered the lens of the eye, mostly, if not completely, obscuring clear vision. At this stage, the lens is inflexible, and white spots may appear.
Advanced cataracts are more difficult to successfully treat.
Preventing Vision Loss from Cataracts
In most cases, vision loss from cataracts is preventable. Cataract surgery can effectively restore the clarity of your vision and stop cataracts from ever returning.
During cataract surgery, the natural lens of the eye is removed and replaced with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). While a monofocal IOL that can correct vision at a single distance, premium IOLs are available that can correct vision at multiple distances.
If you have been diagnosed with cataracts, vision loss is not inevitable. Your ophthalmologist can track the progression of your cataracts, monitor your symptoms, and advise you when the time is right to restore the clarity of your vision with cataract surgery.
Are you experiencing symptoms of cataracts? Schedule a cataract evaluation at Shepherd Eye Center at one of our five locations in Las Vegas or Henderson, NV, today!
