PENNY ASBELL, MD: Maybe you can't read anymore. Maybe you're having trouble driving. Another symptom can be glare or, particularly like driving at night with headlights coming toward you. Some people also complain about a change in color, that the color doesn't seem as rich as it used to be.
ANNOUNCER: People might think all they need is a new prescription.
PENNY ASBELL, MD: But even if you change your glasses and you still can't see well, typically that cause, or the most common cause, is cataracts.
ANNOUNCER: The only way to truly identify any vision problem is to seek advice from an expert.
PENNY ASBELL, MD: One of the reasons to have an eye exam is not just to diagnose cataracts or no cataracts, but to make sure there isn't any other problem that's causing loss of vision. It could be glaucoma, diabetes in the eye, other serious problems that might be changing the vision, and that's important to determine. Is it cataract alone, or is there any other issue going on?
ANNOUNCER: Like grey hairs that slowly creep in, cataracts do their damage over time.
Cataracts typically, in adults, progress slowly. Your vision may still be very good and very functional. Generally, gradually, there's a change or loss of visual acuity.
ANNOUNCER: But at some point, cataracts make changes that become significant.
PENNY ASBELL, MD: The timing for cataract surgery really depends almost always on the patient. When does your vision become a problem? When can you no longer drive, maybe no longer do the activities you like to do, see TV, read, do your crossword puzzle? When you can't get by, that's the time to do cataract surgery.
