Having consistent eye care goes a long way, especially for early cataract detection. Known as a common eye disease for many that develop from middle age to elderly people, cataract has affected many families and lives primarily due to neglect of regular eye examination.
Before we jump into the role eye exams play in early cataract detection, let’s get an understanding of cataracts briefly.
A cataract is a condition in which the natural lens of your eyes starts to cloud due to the clump of protein, leading to blurry and foggy vision. This makes it difficult to live through your daily routines such as reading, driving and even close-up of people’s expressions.
To understand what is cataract, one may encounter symptoms such as dimmed and blurry vision, double vision in a single eye, vision during the night becoming difficult, sensitivity towards lights and glare and fading or yellow hue on colours.
Initially, the cloudiness on your eyes may not be visibly affecting your vision which leads you to miss any vision loss. However, as cataracts spread larger, further distortion will become more noticeable as lights pass through your lens. This is when the symptoms may begin to show up for you. If you notice any of these signs, do not dismiss them and make an appointment with your doctor for a cataract eye exam.
Why do Eye Examinations help with the Early Detection of Cataracts?
Visiting an ophthalmologist regularly isn’t just about ensuring your eye power is doing good but also monitoring your eye health too. You can do your eye a whole lot of favour with a cataract eye examination as early detection of cataracts allows you to manage the symptoms along the condition better, saving you from further troubles due to this eye disease.
A full cataract eye exam goes beyond the visual acuity test that’s commonly done to determine the capacity of your eye vision and if any correction is needed. Contrarily, a qualified ophthalmologist inspect your eye for its overall function while searching for any sign of underlying conditions like glaucoma, cataracts and retinal detachment.
Aside from the common factor of aging, cataracts are also associated with eye injury as a consequence of another eye disease that requires the consumption of medications like steroids. Having pre-existing health conditions like diabetes and hypertension also further the risk of cataract development.
The frequency of your routine cataract eye exam increases as you age. It is advisable to stick to the rule of thumb of every 5 to 10 years between your 20s to 30s, every two to four years from your 40s to mid-50s, every one to three years till your 60s and annually thereafter.
During an cataract eye exam, several tests are done to detect cataracts early on, in the hope of extensive damage and effect from furthering. Let’s take a look at some of the common tests done specifically for cataracts.
A visual acuity test involves a quick and easy assessment of reading alphabets in different sizes of a chart. Your eye accuracy will be measured during this time as your eyes are tested individually as well as the function as a pair. If visual impairment is detected, it could be an early sign of cataract if it is accompanied by even the slightest fuzzy, oblique effect in visions. Additionally, an eye contrast sensitivity test is also conducted, focusing more on the effect of light scattering and glare on image contrast that’s due to the development of cataracts.
During a slit lamp test, a specific type of microscope will be used on your eyes that magnify, giving a clearer picture for your eye doctor of any presence of cataract, and the degree of its cloudiness which then elaborate on the severity of the condition. A light will be directed at your eye as you place your chin on the rest of the slit lamp.
Another test that’s regularly performed for cataract diagnosis is the pupil dilation test. With a few eye drops, the dilated eye gives a distinct view of your entire lens, where your ophthalmologist would then be able to assess the potential effect of cataracts on your vision quality.
With a routine cataract eye exam, you may prevent the further development of cataracts and limit their damage by having early intervention promising restored eye vision through cataract surgery in Malaysia. Bear in mind that cataract is known as a leading cause of blindness for many elderly.
If you’ve not gone through a cataract eye exam for some time now, you know it’s time to call up your eye doctor in Malaysia and book an appointment today.
