Cataract FAQs
Many eye doctors consider cataracts to be a natural part of the aging process. The older you become, the greater your risk of developing this eye condition. These FAQs from The The Eye Care Center LTD, serving residents in Addison, Burbank, Willowbrook, and the surrounding communities explain more about cataract causes, symptoms, and treatment.
Common Cataract Questions
What Are Cataracts?
Cataracts occur when the lens of your eye becomes opaque or cloudy, making it difficult for you to see clearly. Cataracts generally form over time, which is why this condition is more often found in elderly people. Left untreated, cataracts can cause blindness. In fact, it's estimated that up to 42 percent of blindness cases in the world are caused by cataracts.
What Signs Indicate I May Have Cataracts?
In their early stages, cataracts are so faint or small you may have no symptoms. As your cataracts grow, they will begin to interfere with your vision, causing such symptoms as blurred vision, appearance of halos around light, sensitivity to light, distorted vision, and an inability to distinguish colors.
How Are Cataracts Diagnosed?
We diagnose cataracts during a comprehensive eye exam at our Addison, Burbank, or Willowbrook offices. These exams allow us to spot changes in your lens clarity early on — often before you even notice a shift in your vision.
If you’re coming in regularly (which we always recommend), we can monitor any changes over time and catch cataracts while they’re still in the mild stage. At that point, updated glasses or stronger prescriptions might be all you need to keep seeing clearly and comfortably.
But if cataracts start getting in the way, making it harder to drive at night, read fine print, or recognize faces — then it might be time to talk about surgery. Cataract surgery is a simple, outpatient procedure, and for many of our patients, it brings a dramatic improvement in vision.
The key is regular check-ups. That’s how we catch cataracts early and help you stay ahead of them, before they start affecting your everyday life.
If you’re coming in regularly (which we always recommend), we can monitor any changes over time and catch cataracts while they’re still in the mild stage. At that point, updated glasses or stronger prescriptions might be all you need to keep seeing clearly and comfortably.
But if cataracts start getting in the way, making it harder to drive at night, read fine print, or recognize faces — then it might be time to talk about surgery. Cataract surgery is a simple, outpatient procedure, and for many of our patients, it brings a dramatic improvement in vision.
The key is regular check-ups. That’s how we catch cataracts early and help you stay ahead of them, before they start affecting your everyday life.
When Should I Have Cataract Surgery?
Cataract surgery is often recommended when cataracts start to seriously affect your vision. Once your condition makes it difficult to perform daily tasks such as driving, watching TV, using a computer, etc., it's time to consider surgery. Cataract surgery offers a more permanent solution to curing cataracts and restoring your vision.
Is Cataract Surgery Dangerous?
Advancements in cataract surgery have made this procedure fairly common in the U.S. and it poses very little chance of risk to patients.
How Soon Can I Return to Work after Having Cataract Surgery?
That depends on your work environment. If you work indoors in a clean, hygienic environment, you can often return to work in a few days. If you work outdoors, it's best to wait a week or so to avoid the risk of infections. You will be given prescription eye drops to help with healing after surgery. We also recommend you avoid heavy lifting, strenuous activities, and splashing water in your eyes for the first week following cataract surgery.
