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Doctor Strongly Warns Of Early Signs Of A Common Eye Condition You Shouldn’t Ignore – Health

Doctor Strongly Warns Of Early Signs Of A Common Eye Condition You Shouldn’t Ignore – Health

A doctor makes people aware of the symptoms of a common eye condition.

Dr. Helen Wall, GP on the British daytime TV programme BBC morning live“had poor eyesight most of (her) life” and remembers being in primary school and “struggling to see very clearly.”

When she was on holidayshe started to have more trouble than usual seeing through her sunglasses, but that was because sunscreen had gotten on the lenses.

She didn’t realize she was actually experiencing an early symptom of a common condition eye condition.

When she visited her opticians for her regular check-up, Dr Wall was ‘quite shocked’ to hear she had ‘early cataracts’.

“I consider myself very young, I was shocked by that, even as a GP, because you don’t think about that. With old people you think about it,” she added. “(…) I was told I have cataracts because I am very nearsighted and my prescription is minus 11 – which is quite significant.”

But what exactly is cataract?

What are cataracts?

Dr. Wall said: “Cataracts are basically a clouding of the lens in the eye, a small, transparent disc – or at least it should be transparent. What happens with cataracts is that over time it can become cloudy or foggy.”

The National Eye Institute confirms that cataracts occur when the clear part of the eye that helps focus light becomes ‘cloudy’, and although most are ‘age related’, you can develop cataracts after eye surgery or after having other eye problems.

If you ignore the reminder to get your eyes checked, don't (Getty Stock Images/Bill Oxford)

If you ignore the reminder to get your eyes checked, don’t (Getty Stock Images/Bill Oxford)

What are the early symptoms of cataracts?

Reflecting on an early sign of cataracts, Dr. Wall explained, “When we’re young, it’s like our lens is looking through a clear window, but when you start to develop cataracts, it can become very foggy, more like a bathroom window.

“It can be quite difficult for people as it can affect things like driving and carrying out their normal daily activities as it progresses, so it is something to be aware of.”

And it’s not just blurry and blurry vision, but also “less colorful” vision that can indicate cataracts, but also “sensitivity to light, difficulty seeing in the dark,” seeing “a halo around lights” and ‘double vision’.

How likely are you to develop cataracts?

You may be at greater risk of developing cataracts as you get older, as well as if you have a family history, have eye surgery, spend a lot of time in the sun, drink a lot. alcoholsmoke or take steroids.

If you notice your vision becoming blurry, it might be time for a checkup (Getty Stock Images/Zarina Lukash)

If you notice your vision becoming blurry, it might be time for a checkup (Getty Stock Images/Zarina Lukash)

How to deal with cataracts

Protecting your eyes from the sun and during sports or activities that put you at risk of injuring your eyes, in addition to eating a healthy diet and quitting smoking, can help lower your risk of cataracts.

And if you do get them? Cataracts can lead to vision loss, but luckily you can undergo surgery to get rid of them.

The National Eye Institute explains, “No matter what type of cataract you have, you will need surgery to treat it.”

However, it does provide assurance that the operation is ‘safe’ and ‘corrects vision problems caused by cataracts’.

So maybe this is a good time to stop putting off responding to that eye test reminder you keep getting in the mail.