1. Understand the General Course of Cataract Development
A congenital (from birth) cataract may not present symptoms right away. Cataracts can evolve over time and cause gradual loss of sight and fogginess of vision. A cataract may cause problems years or even decades down the line. The problem often first appears as an elliptical form in front of the eyes. Physically, what happens is the cataract distorts incoming light and thus projects a cloudy image onto your lens.
2. Know Your Symptoms
A congenital cataract can present itself in several ways. You might see so-called halos around street lamps, candles and even halogen lights. If you wear eyeglasses, you may find yourself changing prescriptions often. Some colors may appear faded or yellowed when you look at them in a certain light. Another symptom is a sense of double vision when you look through just one of your eyes. You may also become acutely sensitive to bright lights and have trouble seeing in the dark or at night. The most telltale symptom is foggy vision in general.
3. Take Tests to Determine the Presence and Severity of Cataracts
Ophthalmologists use a number of visual and retinal tests to identify cataracts. The so-called flip lamp examination magnifies the cornea, iris and other eye structures. By putting your lens under the microscope, the doctor can look for small variations from normality. Another test looks at the retina itself by using an instrument called an opthalmascope. During this examination, the ophthalmologist may also look for signs of glaucoma or damage to your optic nerve. Your doctor can also perform a simple visual acuity test, which is done without any instruments. You simply read letters off a chart several feet away. This relatively simple test can identify generalized vision problems and may suggest more cataract-specific diagnostic tools.
