Risks of Leaving Cataracts Untreated

Cataracts are an extremely common eye condition that affects nearly half of all Americans by the age of 80. This clouding of your natural lenses typically occurs due to aging, but changes may also result from eye injuries or surgeries. If cataracts have started to alter your daily life, then it’s important to follow up with a skilled surgeon to determine whether cataract surgery in Grand Junction can preserve your vision and restore your best quality of life.

What happens when cataracts are left untreated?

Left untreated, cataracts can put you at risk for injuries, like falls or running into things, due to low vision. Not to mention, driving becomes hazardous as the condition progresses. Essentially, untreated cataracts can remove your sense of independence over time.

But most seriously, as the lenses become cloudier, you may experience significant vision loss.

In some cases, cataracts can even become more difficult to treat if they get too dense — a condition known as hyper-mature cataracts. Your lenses will become pearly white and can fill with fluid, making them harder to remove and increasing your chance of surgical complications.

How quickly do cataracts worsen?

Cataract progression varies greatly based on the age of onset, severity of your condition and its cause. For example, even if you were only recently diagnosed with this condition, it may have been slowly developing for years. However, if your cataracts stem from a disease, such as diabetes, then your eyes may worsen quicker.

That’s why it’s vital to maintain regular exams with your eye doctor to monitor the progression of your condition.

Cataract treatment options

It may surprise you, but not all cases of cataracts require surgery, at least at first. Your cataract eye surgeon may successfully delay surgery with less invasive options first.

In fact, early stages of treatment may just involve changes to your corrective eyewear, like anti-glare glasses and prescription changes, to boost your vision. Additionally, your doctor will discuss lifestyle changes, like eye-friendly fruits and veggies, brighter overhead lighting, and eyewear that blocks dangerous UV rays.

However, to completely remove cataracts and replace the eye lenses, cataract surgery is needed.

You don’t have to cope with your cataract symptoms or give up activities you love, like reading or exercising. While you may be inclined to put off cataract surgery, waiting months — and even weeks — can make all the difference in achieving your best vision.

At ICON Eyecare, we aim to make cataract surgery in Grand Junction accessible to all. Our expert eye care specialists will work with you to analyze your insurance or Medicare plan and explore our financing options. We offer a variety of payment options to ensure swift and comprehensive care because you and your vision goals are our top priority!