What Do I Do If I Have a Cataract in One Eye?

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If you have a cataract in one eye only, it’s normal to wonder how that will affect your overall vision. When one eye can compensate, you might even wonder how necessary it is to take action in the first place. We’ll look at how the cloudiness impacts your overall sight so you have a better idea of how to handle it.

Know the Facts 

Cataracts in Champaign, IL, are essentially a yellowing of the lens in the eye. Much like a piece of paper might fade over time, so too will different body parts. If your other eye is crystal clear, you may not notice much of a change at first. This is partially because the dominant eye will take over and partially because some cataracts will move slowly.

Protect Your Eyes 

No matter what your vision is like right now, though, there has never been a better time to protect it. Adding more fruits and veggies to your diet and wearing sunglasses every time you step outside should be the bare minimum. The more you kick into proactive gear, the fewer issues you’ll have down the line.

Consider Cataract Surgery in Champaign

Protecting your eyes won’t reverse the cataract; it will only (potentially) slow down the progression. Plus, there is no medication that can help you manage the symptoms. If you and youroptometrist in Champaign, IL, have seen that your vision is significantly impaired due to your cloudy outlook, cataract surgery is as safe as it is effective. One of the most common surgeries in the industry, it’s a fast outpatient procedure with around a 99% success rate. Contact Champaign Eye Professionals to learn more about it to see how we can help.

What to Expect With Cataract Surgery

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Each year, millions of people have cataract surgery. The method has been proven to be effective and safe both by scientific studies and by practice. Yet, when it’s you who needscataract surgery in Champaign, IL, it can feel scary. The more you know about what to expect, the better off you’ll feel. Here is some helpful information about cataract surgery.

Pre-surgery

Your cataract surgery will be scheduled for a particular future date. You’ll be given time to prepare for the surgery and provided with some helpful tips to help get you ready. You should try to eat nutritiously and avoid excessive drinking and smoking. The better condition you’re in physically, the speedier your recovery time will be. You may be asked to stop taking certain medications that could affect the surgery or recovery. You may also be prescribed eye drops that may be used before or after the procedure.

During Surgery

You can expect the surgery to take about an hour. However, you should clear your day because it’s unlikely you’ll want to resume regular activities afterward. You should also plan to have someone drive you home after the surgery. You will be given a sedative to help you relax, and a local anesthetic and a numbing agent will be applied around the eye. During the actual surgery, you’ll be aware of the activity, but you won’t be able to see what theeye doctor in Champaign, IL, is doing.

After Surgery

You’ll have time to rest post-surgery, and you’ll be watched to make sure you’re comfortable. After about 30 minutes, you’ll be fitted with an eye patch over the treated eye and a pair of special sunglasses to wear over the next several weeks. You’ll also be given at-home instructions and given a follow-up appointment.

To learn more about the details of having cataract surgery or to book your appointment, please contact us today.

What You Need to Know about Diabetes and Cataracts

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If you have diabetes, you should talk with your optometrist in Champaign, IL, about your eyes. Diabetes can wreak havoc on your eyes, and that includes giving you diabetic cataracts. Keep reading to learn more.

What Are Diabetic Cataracts?

People who have diabetes are more likely to develop cataracts at an earlier age than those without diabetes. As you age, the lenses in your eyes become thicker and less transparent. But when you have diabetes, and you age, your high blood sugar levels can change the structure of the lens of your eyes. This is what accelerates the growth of cataracts in your eyes.

When this happens, you will notice clouding in your eyes. Therefore, it’s extremely important to schedule a cataract eye exam in Champaign, IL, immediately if you begin to notice changes in your vision.

What Type of Cataracts Are Caused by Diabetes?

The most common type of cataracts in people with diabetes is called senile type [10]. However, those with type 1 diabetes commonly have what’s called snowflake cataracts. Then, there are posterior subcapsular cataracts that are also associated with people who have diabetes. Your eye doctor in Champaign, IL, will be able to examine your eyes and tell you which type of cataracts you have.

What Is the Treatment for Diabetic Cataracts?

There are several available treatments for diabetic cataracts at the time of surgery that will help prevent your cataracts from getting worse. These include intravitreal steroids of both injections and implants. There are also macular laser therapy treatments and intravitreal anti-vascular endothelial growth factor medications as well.

Do You Need an Optometrist in Champaign, IL?

If you need an optometrist in Champaign, IL, please Contact Champaign Eye Professionals today. We have two highly skilled optometrists on staff, and we are dedicated to helping you maintain a healthy vision throughout your life.

Can Cataracts Become Painful If Left Untreated?

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Cataracts refer to proteins on the lens of the eye, and it’s a condition that typically develops very slowly over time. When 24.4 million people over the age of 40 have it, it’s important to understand what you’re really up against. If you’re nervous about what cataracts feel like, we’ll look at what you can expect.

Do Cataracts Cause Pain?

The short answer is not really. Pain is not one of the symptoms of this condition, and this is true even if you have a relatively advanced state of cataracts. Instead of pain, you’re likely to have cloudy vision, sensitivity to light, double vision, nearsightedness, or intense glare at night. A cataract evaluation in Champaign, IL can tell you more about what your cataracts look like and what can be done to get them under control.

Treating Cataracts in Champaign

Cataracts might not cause pain, but they can have a marked impact on your life. Unfortunately, you can’t turn to a medication for help, either. Surgery is really the best way to treat this disorder. It’s not only one of the most risk-free surgeries you can have, it’s also relatively little recovery time. If you’re looking for an optometrist in Champaign who can help you treat cataracts, it’s important to talk to someone who can give you all of your options upfront. For instance, you might be able to avoid surgery for a while if you wear a stronger prescription, though the condition will need to be monitored so your vision isn’t slowly deteriorating over time.

At Champaign Eye Professionals, our evaluations are thorough enough to catch what’s really happening to your eyes. We can help you navigate through different choices so you’re comfortable about managing and potentially removing the build-up.

Do Sunglasses Help Prevent Cataracts?

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Sunglasses are a great way to keep yourself from squinting, but more importantly, they block UV rays from the sun. Keeping these damaging rays from your eyes may prevent cataracts in Champaign, IL. If you’re looking for a way to be proactive, see why this is and what else you can do to stay on the right side of your vision.

Cataracts and the Sun

Cataracts affect the lens of the eye, turning it from clear to yellow. It’s sometimes known as a natural aging process, and to a certain extent, there’s some truth to that. However, because UVA and UVB rays can both damage the eye and because they can penetrate fairly deep into this important organ, people who wear sunglasses are less likely to get cataracts.

There is no definitive connection between the sun’s rays and cataracts, but it is true that cataracts are a type of damage and that the sun is known to cause damage to the human body. People who wear sunglasses early often have a lower chance of getting cataracts later in life. In fact, some studies put the odds at 20% or more. Considering the fact that more than half of all people get cataracts by the time they’re 75 or older, buying a good pair of sunglasses in Champaign, IL, is something to consider.

Finding Sunglasses in Champaign

Even the cheapest pair of drugstore sunglasses will offer you some degree of protection against the sun. However, if you’re looking for a quality pair of sunglasses that will be as stylish as they are safe, it can help you find a good optometrist in Champaign, IL. At Champaign Eye Professionals, our staff can give you all the advice you need on how to protect your long-term vision.

Elderly man examined by an ophthalmologist

If I Have Cataracts, Do I Need Surgery?

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Cataracts that are left untreated can cause blindness. In fact, cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide. If you have cataracts, it’s natural to wonder whether you need cataract surgery to treat your condition. Your eye doctor in Champaign, IL can help you determine whether surgery is necessary, but here’s what you should know about cataracts and the surgical treatment.

You May Not Need Surgery Immediately

Although the only way to get rid of cataracts is to treat them with surgery, most eye doctors will start by prescribing prescription lenses that can help patients see with their cataracts. In the early stages, cataracts are mild enough that most patients can live their day-to-day lives without serious negative consequences. The right prescription lenses can help patients see clearly enough that they can continue to drive, navigate the world, read and more.

When Surgery Is Required

Surgery is required to treat cataracts when the patient’s day-to-day life is negatively impacted by the presence of cataracts. When the patient loses the ability to do important everyday tasks because of their cataracts, surgery may be the only way to help the patient regain quality of life.

How Can I Tell If I Need Cataract Surgery?

If you are a patient suffering from cataracts, you can find out if your cataracts are serious enough to justify surgery by speaking with your eye doctor. Your eye doctor can evaluate your cataracts and recommend surgery if it is warranted.

If you suffer from cataracts, it’s important to get cataract treatment in Champaign, IL. At Champaign Eye Professionals, we can help you get the treatment you need to maintain good quality of life. Call today to get started.

How Does a Cataract Evaluation Work?

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You have around a 50-50 chance of developing cataracts between the ages of 65 and 74, and the numbers only go up from there. Getting your eyes tested can be a great way to catch the warning signs early so you can prepare. If you’re interested in a cataract evaluation in Champaign, IL, we’ll tell you more about how it works.

Eye Measurements

The first thing an eye doctor will do is measure your eyes, and they’ll do this before they put drops in your eyes or test your eye pressure. Either of these things can affect your actual eye measurements, so it’s critical to get the most accurate numbers. In addition to a better evaluation, if you do have cataracts and opt for cataract surgery, these are the numbers the surgeon will use.

Eye Exam

Once the doctor has determined your eye measurements, they will do a test on your pupils and cornea. You’ll need to have your pupils dilated during the test, as this is the only way to thoroughly check for cataracts. Using special tools that can illuminate your eyes, they look for any abnormalities or signs of cataracts. In addition, you’ll receive a standard visual acuity test, where the doctor will check how well you can read off a line of letters.

Cataract Treatment in Champaign, IL

There are no proven prevention strategies for cataracts, though a healthy lifestyle and regular examinations certainly don’t hurt your chances of avoiding them. The most common cataract treatment is surgery, and not just because it’s one of the more routine surgeries you could ever sign up for. This procedure is incredibly effective, safe, and affordable for the vast majority of people. If you want to learn more about how an eye doctor in Champaign, IL can give you a heads-up about your overall health, scheduling an evaluation at Champaign Eye Professionals can help you get a handle on your long-term vision.

 

Can Cataracts Be Prevented? Tips for Reducing Your Risk

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Most people know at least one older person who either has cataracts or who has had cataract surgery. What’s less known is that sometimes cataracts can be prevented. Not everyone gets cataracts when they get older. How can you reduce your risk of developing cataracts in Champaign, IL?

Reducing Cataract Risk

The risk of developing age-related and secondary cataracts may be less likely to occur if a person makes certain lifestyle adjustments. However, if a person is in a high-risk category, lifestyle changes may not be enough to prevent cataracts. Nevertheless, it’s worth reducing the risk of cataracts, even by a little. Consider:

  • Quitting smoking
  • Maintaining a healthy weight
  • Reducing or eliminating alcohol intake
  • Reducing sugar intake
  • Managing diabetes
  • Exercising regularly
  • Minimizing exposure to UV rays
  • Minimizing exposure to blue light

What Causes Cataracts?

Researchers don’t actually know the exact reason why cataracts develop. It’s known that cataracts develop as a result of protein buildup on the lens of the eye. Since eyesight relies on light entering the eyes through the lens, this protein buildup results in partial or total vision loss. The cloudy or blurry vision that cataract victims experience is due to the cataract blocking the entry of light.

Four Types of Cataracts

There are actually four different categories of cataracts.

  1. Congenital cataracts are either present at birth, or develop very early in childhood, and are typically present in both eyes.
  2. Trauma-related cataracts develop after an eye injury or, in some cases, after eye surgery.
  3. Secondary cataracts occur as a symptom of a medical condition, like diabetes or sometimes as a result of steroid use.
  4. Age-related cataracts occur for unknown reasons, but have been linked to certain risk factors as explained below.

Note that although these are different categories of cataracts, they would all be treated in the same way, which is lens replacement.

Early symptoms of cataracts are difficult to detect without the help of an eye doctor in Champaign, IL. Contact us to book a comprehensive cataract evaluation today.

Do I Have Cataracts? An FAQ

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Cataracts can impact your vision at night and during the day. While cataracts can eventually take away your ability to see, in their early stages, they may do little to impact your visual acuity. To understand what a cataract is, and to determine whether you have cataracts, it’s helpful to see an eye doctor in Champaign, IL. If you believe you may have cataracts, here’s what you need to know.

What Is a Cataract?

A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s lens. Usually, this lens is clear. As the cataract becomes severe, it will become so cloudy that it can cause blindness.

How Can You Tell If You Have Cataracts?

The best way to tell if you have cataracts is to get a cataracts evaluation in Champaign IL. Your eye doctor can tell you whether you have cataracts and, if so, what the eye doctor recommends doing abut it.

Cataracts is a treatable condition, but many eye doctors will not recommend eye surgery until the condition is bad enough to warrant it. Until then, most eye doctors will simply recommend that their patients return for regular check-ups to ensure that their patient is safe.

Is It Safe to Drive With Cataracts?

You can drive with cataracts as long as your eye doctor has told you that you can. Your cataract may require you to return to the eye doctor to get new glasses frequently. As long as you keep up with eye doctor appointments, have gotten new prescription lenses whenever they’re needed, and your eye doctor has told you that you may continue driving, then you may.

Want to know more about cataracts? Call Champaign Eye Professionals to make an appointment. We can answer your questions.

How Can I Know If I Have Cataracts?

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Cataracts sound scary, but they don’t have to be. Knowing the signs that you have cataracts can help you determine when it’s time to see an eye doctor. Getting treatment early is important for your vision and safety. The good news is that cataracts are treatable, provided that you see your eye doctor in Champaign IL.

What Are Cataracts

A cataract is just a cloudy lens that gets in the way of clear vision. As the cataract grows, the cloudiness becomes worse. Cataracts don’t necessarily develop together or in perfect symmetry with each other – one eye may have a more severe cataract than the other. To manage this, your doctor may prescribe corrective lenses that treat each eye differently.

Signs of Cataracts

Below are some of the most common signs of cataracts:

  • Cloudy vision
  • Double vision
  • Blurry vision
  • Noticing halos around lights
  • Need for increasingly bright light when reading
  • Colors getting faded or yellowed
  • Need for increasingly strong prescription in corrective lenses

What to Do If You Think You Have Cataracts

If you think you have cataracts, the first thing that you should do is contact your eye doctor for cataract services in Champaign IL. Your eye doctor can diagnose your condition and let you know if you have cataracts.

If you do have cataracts, your eye doctor will likely start by prescribing stronger corrective lenses to help with your problem. As the cataracts continue to progress, your eye doctor may eventually recommend corrective surgery to fix the problem.

For more information about how to manage cataracts and other common eye problems, contact Champaign Eye Professionals. We can diagnose your condition and recommend treatments to help improve your vision.