Can Sunglasses Prevent Cataracts?

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If you’re worried that you may develop cataracts, you might consider having a cataract evaluation in Champaign, IL. A cataract evaluation can let you know if cataracts are developing or returning, if you’ve had them previously. Cataracts can happen to anyone, but age is definitely a risk factor. However, few people realize that prolonged and/or chronic exposure to the sun’s harmful ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage the proteins in the lens of the eye, leading to cataract formation. For this reason, sunglasses are a useful preventative measure that may help prevent cataracts.

How Sunglasses Help

Sunglasses help by blocking out a percentage of the sun’s rays. Some sunglasses even go so far as blocking out 100% of harmful UVA and UVB rays, which will certainly minimize the risk of developing cataracts. But not every pair of sunglasses can do this. You need to make sure you buy quality sunglasses, preferably a name brand, with lenses that have been UV-rated.

Choosing the Right Sunglasses

To get the most benefit, look for sunglasses labeled as offering 100% UVA and UVB protection. Polarized lenses can also reduce glare, making it easier to see in bright sunlight, though polarization doesn’t add UV protection. Wraparound styles are particularly useful as they block UV light from entering around the sides of the glasses, offering even more protection. Your eye doctor in Champaign, IL offers quality sunglasses that are trendy and offer the kind of UV protection you need to shield your eyes from the sun’s rays in summer and in winter.

You don’t have to relegate yourself to a future with cataracts. In many cases, cataracts can be avoided, and there are many older people who have never had them. If you have more questions, or would like to book a cataract evaluation, please contact Champaign Eye Professionals today.

Elderly man examined by an ophthalmologist

Will I Be Able to Drive with Cataracts?

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Cataracts in Champaign, IL affect the lens of the eye, otherwise known as the element that focuses light so that it can transmit signals to the brain. When you’re young, that lens is typically crisp and clear, but the lens can start to yellow as you age. While cataracts can happen to anyone, including infants, they tend to affect people in their 60s and 70s. If you’re wondering if you can drive if you have cataracts, we’ll look at the safety concerns.

Driving with Cataracts

If you’re asking whether you can drive with cataracts, the shortest answer is that some people can and do drive with cataracts. Usually, at the beginning of the disorder, your vision hasn’t changed drastically enough to impair your abilities on the road. However, cataracts usually get worse over time, so it’s important to pay attention to deteriorations long before they can affect another driver, passenger, or pedestrian.

What to Keep in Mind

Cataracts can progress very differently for different people. In some cases, the disease is so slow-moving that it doesn’t affect the individual in any noticeable way. They may have a slight tinge in their vision, but not enough to impact their daily routines. For others, the issue progresses rapidly, quickly becoming a do-or-die situation requiring cataract surgery to see clearly. The problem is often the in-between cases, where the changes occur, but they’re slow enough that they’re not altogether noticeable.

If you have questions about your cataracts, it can help to see an eye doctor in Champaign who can tell you more about whether it’s safe for you to get behind the wheel. At Champaign Eye Professionals, we can give you a comprehensive evaluation, so you’re completely confident on the road.

 

 

What Is a Cortical Cataract?

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While millions of people will experience cataracts throughout their lives, not everyone will have the same type of cataract. If you’ve heard the term cortical, we’ll look at what it means, how it differs from other types of cataracts, and what you can do to abate or eliminate the disorder.

 

What Are Cortical Cataracts?

There are three types of cataracts that you can get: cortical, nuclear, and posterior subcapsular. They are differentiated based on where the clouding of the lens occurs. An eye doctor in Champaign, IL, can explain that with a cortical cataract, the yellowing of the lens starts in the outer layer. Cortical cataracts are the ones most associated with diabetes?

Are Cortical Cataracts the Most Common Form of Cataracts?

No. The nuclear cataract is the most common type of cataract. The nuclear cataract starts in the central part of the lens and is usually caused by the general aging process.

What Are the Symptoms of Cortical Cataracts?

The most common symptom is light sensitivity, which is caused by the disruption of the lens fibers via the protein clusters. This scatters the light you see and can sometimes lead to glare. It’s worth noting that while there is no known cause for cataracts, they have been linked to smoking and poor diets.

Visit an Eye Doctor in Champaign, IL

If you’re looking for an eye doctor for a cataract evaluation in Champaign, IL, who can help you learn more about how your eyes are progressing, visit the team at Champaign Eye Professionals. In some cases, you may be able to reduce the symptoms of your cataracts via eyewear or lifestyle changes. For others, they may need surgery to help clear up the clouding of the lens.

How to Choose a Cataract Surgeon

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Cataract surgery is one of the most common procedures that you can ever sign up for. Fast, simple, and relatively painless for the patient, it’s billed as nearly foolproof for anyone who needs it. Of course, despite the straightforward nature of cataract surgery, these are still your eyes. If you want to reduce the odds of a complication, we’ll look at how to make a better decision.

Expertise in the Optical Industry
Surgery is a field that changes quite often, particularly as new technology debuts in the operating room. If you’re working with an older surgeon who has been taught a certain way, they may not have all the facts.

This doesn’t mean that you should find a younger surgeon, but it may mean asking the surgeon more questions about what they offer and comparing it to other surgical practices in the area. For example, not everyeye doctor in Champaign, IL, will offer the type of intraocular lens that would help your vision the most. If you’re confused about exactly where to start, consider asking your current optometrist for their professional opinion.

Cataract Surgeons in Champaign, IL
Cataract surgery in Champaign, IL, is more than just the main event. You need to be comfortable with the staff so you can get your questions answered and keep up with your appointment schedule. If you feel uncomfortable when you visit, or you find yourself doubting the information you’re getting, it can cause you more grief than it’s worth.

If you’re looking for acataract evaluation in Champaign, IL, contact Champaign Eye Professionals today to make an appointment. In addition to assessing your eyes for this common condition, we can be a springboard to help you find a surgeon who can help you see more clearly.

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.