The front of the eye holds a natural lens that helps direct light to the back of the eye for vision. As part of the natural aging process, the lens will gradually turn hard and yellow over many years, and this will eventually cause changes in vision. If left untreated, advanced cataracts will continue to diminish vision. Understanding the ways to treat advanced cataracts will help a person determine the best possible treatment for her eyes.
Eyewear
One of the easiest ways to treat poor vision from cataracts is to update an eyeglass prescription. As the cataract progresses, the natural lens in the eye cannot focus light in the right location on the back of the eye, and this will cause the prescription to change. Reading and other tasks that require close-up vision, such as needlework, will often seem impossible. For near vision, a magnifying glasses may help improve vision, says MayoClinic.com. At some point, a prescription change may not improve vision, and a cataract sufferer may need to consider other treatments.
Surgery
In order to completely treat and resolve vision loss from cataracts, a doctor will recommend surgically removing the cataract. The doctor will replace the hard, yellow lens with a clear, artificial lens, and this process will improve vision in an otherwise healthy eye, explains MedlinePlus. Prior to surgery, the doctor takes a number of measurements to determine the lens to place inside the eye, as well as to help with the procedure itself. The eye surgeon will discuss the possible outcomes of the procedure, but once the eye heals from surgery, many people experience a significant improvement in vision.
Complications
Cataracts cause cloudy vision, but cataracts may also cause double vision, poor night vision and problems with glare. The cataracts will also cause colors to diminish, due to the yellowing of the natural lens. If left untreated, advanced cataracts may cause complete blindness, allowing the cataract sufferer to only distinguish bright light. Blindness is so common, in fact, that advanced cataracts resulting from the natural aging process cause 48 percent of worldwide blindness, according to the World Health Organization.
