The Dangers of Leaving Cataracts Untreated

A cataract is when your eye's natural lens becomes cloudy, caused by the breakdown of proteins in your lens. For most people with cataracts, cataract surgery is the best option to preserve vision and eye health. But, what happens if you leave cataracts untreated? Here’s a look:

Symptoms & Cataract Treatment Options

When you start developing cataracts, your vision will be negatively impacted. You may notice your eyesight becoming more blurry or hazy, and possibly less colorful. Other common symptoms of cataracts include sensitivity, glare while looking in the direction of the sun, glare around lights at night, and difficulty seeing at night or in low lighting.

If your cataracts are early in their development, you may not need surgery right away. But, at some point, you’ll need to have the surgery in order to keep your vision intact. Cataract surgery is really the only cataract treatment option that works, and the good news is that it’s safe and effective.

What Happens If You Leave Cataracts Untreated?

If you don’t like the sound of surgery or don’t feel like your vision is suffering too much from your cataracts, you might be tempted to let them be. But, this is not advisable. The reality is that cataracts progress at different rates, but they always progress.

So even if your symptoms are bearable at the moment, they will certainly get to a point where they’re posing a real risk to your vision. In fact, cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide. Instead of being scared by this, feel empowered with the information so you can make the right choice for your eyes and your vision.

If you’re worried you might have cataracts, or know that you already do, please schedule an eye exam today. We’re here to help, and can give you expert advice about when and if cataract surgery is right for you.