Posted by Don’t allow anyone to tell you to move straight to the theater room for cataract surgery without doing some necessary test to know the condition of your eyes. Several people have entirely lost their sight because they’ve read some articles about cataracts. They took some steps based on the information they saw online about cataracts, and they ended up blaming themselves. Not only that, but some lost their sight because they neglected the aspect of going for a proper checkup on their eyes.
Some read about the fact that laser eye surgery is the only way to treat cataracts. Of course, they are correct, but there are steps and protocols to follow before concluding ongoing cataract surgery.
However, it is suitable for you as an individual to at least have an idea of what cataract is all about. Remember, there are quack eye doctors out there, and they might take advantage of you since they know you can’t question their services of your eyes. Would you please permit me to chip in this and ensure that your eye doctor is testing you based on the symptoms you’re seeing? Don’t forget that not all eye problems are cataracts. Therefore, do not allow anyone to ask you some questions about how you feel, and the next thing is to go for cataract surgery.
Why do you need to be diagnosed before doing cataract surgery?
The reason behind this question is that it is easier for people around you to jump to the conclusion that you have cataracts. In fact, some might even judge it with the symptoms they saw while they have a problem in their eyes. There’s a thin line between the symptoms of cataracts and other eye problems.
If you have a cataract, you may likely see the same symptoms just like someone with glaucoma, strabismus, refractive errors, and others. What am I saying in essence? I only want to show you that before one goes for cataract surgery, some tests and examinations must be done.
If care is not taken, a man battling glaucoma can be advised to go for cataract surgery since there’s no difference in the symptoms of glaucoma and cataracts. Therefore, one needs to concentrate even while the test is going on to determine the issue with the eyes.
Dear reader, it is expedient for you to ensure that your eye doctor is competent enough to decide if you have a cataract or not. And if there’s a need for you to undergo cataract surgery, it must be what was derived from the test.
What are the best three ways to diagnose cataracts?
Remember, once you notice some cataract symptoms like blurry vision, trouble seeing at night, seeing colors as faded, double vision, and halos surrounding light, the first thing to tell your eye doctor is to do some tests.
The doctor will look closely at your eyes, and he may do the following test:
- Visual acuity test: This is a unique way of saying, “one is going through an eye chart exam.” Here, your doctor will test your ability to see appropriately. He may place some letter before you from a distance, and he will ask you to read. By doing this, your eye doctor wants to know how sharp your vision is. At first, your eye doctor will ask you to read with one eye and later proceed to the second eye. The reason behind that is because cataracts can be in both looks, and you may not know. You can read about Five essential things you need to understand about cataract surgery by clicking here.
- Furthermore, the examiner will move to another aspect by doing a glare test. He will shine a bright light in your eyes, and he will ask you to read the letters. A visual acuity test is essential. It is regarded as one of the best ways of diagnosing cataracts. Therefore, after this test, if he finds out that you cannot read, he can then suggest cataract surgery.
- Slit-lamp exam: This step is another way of diagnosing cataracts. Your eye doctor will make use of a special microscope with a bright light to check every part of your eyes. The doctor will use the microscope to limit your cornea and the transparent outer layer of your eyes. Not only that, but they will also examine the iris. Iris is the colored tissue at the front of the eye that contains the pupil in the center. Also, the doctor will examine the lens that sits behind the iris. So, the lens bends lights as it penetrates your eyes to enable you to see things. Therefore, as an individual, it is good for you to have an idea about this test. The other aspect remains with your doctor to determine if you will need to undergo cataract surgery or not. A slit-lamp exam is a most-used way of diagnosing cataracts in Sydney.
- Retinal exam: Retinal exam is also one of the ways to diagnose cataracts. This exam is also known as ophthalmoscopy and funduscopy. A retina exam allows your doctor to evaluate the back of your eye, including the retina, optic disk, and underlying layer of blood vessels that nourish the retina. The eye doctor performs this by putting drops in your eyes to broaden your pupils; the dark spots in the center control how much light gets in. The doctor will have a good look at the retina. You can red more about retina decies by visiting https://medlineplus.gov/retinaldisorders.html
Therefore, if you think you have a cataract and heard your doctor talking about a retina exam, you are on the right track.
Conclusion
Examining you is the first step if you have a cataract. Don’t join the league of those that are doing self-medication to prevent cataracts. The moment you notice any of the symptoms above, the next step to take is to visit your eye doctor. However, this article consists of why you need to examine yourself before concluding you have a cataract. Also, I carefully explained the three best ways of diagnosing cataracts.