How would I know when my eyes are in danger
By suspenseful
@suspenseful (40193)
Canada
March 16, 2013 11:01am CST
I have astigmatism, which means that I have to wear glasses if the print on the page is too close and even that to the background, but cataracts run in the maternal side of my family. My maternal grandmother had to have an operation in her eighties and then it was easier to get one as you did not need to wait that long. Nowadays when I reach her age if I get them, I would probably have to wait until I am completely blind. I have a friend who needs a hip replacement and is in excruciating pain and cannot get the hip replaced until it is completely dissolved. I live in Canada, by the way.
Now the problem is it would be harder for me to detect whether it is the astigmatism that is affecting my eyes or if it is the start of cataracts. I do have excellent night vision and I can see extremely small print if it is dark enough.
So could anyone tell me the beginning symptoms of cataracts so I can prevent them from progressing and how different are they from astigmatism.
2 people like this
8 responses
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
16 Mar 13
I can see very well in the dark, so maybe the cataract the doctor said I have is decreasing. I hope so.
2 people like this
@hunibani (720)
• Philippines
25 Mar 13
The following signs and symptoms can indicate that your eyes are in risk and danger and need medical attention as soon as possible. Visit and have a regular check up with your doctor.
A flood of spots and floaters in your field of vision - Usually, spots and floaters are due to a benign, age-related condition. Where gel like separates from retina.
A sensation that a dark curtain has settled across your field of view. This could be caused by a retinal detachment. Eye pain, redness and nausea. A gradual (or sudden) narrowing of your field of vision, leaving you with the ability to see only directly in front of you. This could mean you have developed glaucoma that damages your optic nerve. Cloudy and blurred eyesight, "halos" around lights at night, loss of bright color vision. These vision changes may be due to cataracts. Cataracts tend to worsen gradually over time and are not a medical emergency.Nevertheless, as your eye's natural lens continues to cloud with aging, you eventually will go blind unless you have cataract surgery that replaces your cloudy lens. xx
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
26 Mar 13
When you wake up and read something and the words are blurry and they clear up as you awake, is that a cause for alarm? It only takes about five minutes and my eyes water.
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@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
26 Mar 13
I think it is due to my astigmatism. I will have to wait until the weather warms up and have enough money for glasses. I will probably need them with the glare protector.
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@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
16 Mar 13
WEll I have the astigmatism not sure when I did theyjust finally told me at on of myeye exams years ago.
AS for catarcts was told they were starting when I was in 50s and now they are watching the I guess if it progresses farther then theywill take the out I have found no way to stop them. My om had hers operated on when she was 82 my brother just had his done and he is 5 years younger than me. myleft eye is the worse and only way I can tell myself is cover one eye up if things is fuzzy catarcts are working on that eye my colors are bright not faded like my mom said and I read just fine eevn if printing isnt dark. SO the best thing to do is get and eye exam when time the Doc will tell youif you are getting them or not
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@Lakota12 (42600)
• United States
17 Mar 13
Yes with astigmatism the letters are always off to th side and ya see a blurred image of 2 of he same letter then they fix the lense to bring them together so you only see oneand clear do the same with up and down lines and across lines they fix the lence again so they all come together and you see oneline the last time I got glasses I was told to buy no more as they wouldnt help the catracts
Now when I put hand over right eye I can tell the left is real fuzzy in the middle so I know that one is growing fast over my left eye the right eye seems very clear so not sure if they do one eye then wait till other gets fuzzy or they do them one after the other. I will see what they say on the 2nd of next month if they have grown across the eyes more!
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@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
16 Mar 13
I am doing eye exercises and when I was young, I had to put a hand over one eye, and see if I could see better out of the other. I am finding that my right eye is getting stronger when before it was slightly blurry, but learned that is also due to astigmatism. I do find with my eyes open wider, I can see better though. I will have to wait until the weather is warmer and to save for the glasses if I need them because my plan only pays for part of the prescription.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
17 Mar 13
I can clearly over each eye, but my left eye has always been clearer since I am a lefty. I have lazy eye and that was operated on. It is just when I first wake up, and get on my ipad I cannot see that clearly until my eyes wake up since it is still dark outside.
1 person likes this
@whittby (3072)
• United States
17 Mar 13
I had cataract surgery seven years ago. I couldn't see close up, and the glare around the headlights at night made it impossible to drive. I would say the glare and night vision is a good clue. Also, I found myself wanting to have more lights on in the house. Insurance here won't pay for the surgery until they are fairly well advanced. And only one eye is done at a time in a really fast outpatient surgery.
Just had to go back for a laser "whisking" of one eye - night glare was coming back and the second surgery is fairly common.
For eye health I take beta carotene, bilberry, lutein, and alplha lipoic capsules. Not daily because actually I forget, but fairly often.
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
17 Mar 13
That is the same here. You can only get one eye done and the cataract has to be well advanced. I do have good night vision and take bilberry and an eye multi-vitamin three times a day - can't be too careful. So do you mean that a sign of cataracts is that you cannot see as well at night?
1 person likes this
@dragon54u (31636)
• United States
16 Mar 13
My eye doctor tested me recently for field of vision, which is how far around you that you can see. That is how they tell if cataracts are there or advancing. He told me that I could also test myself at home, although not as well, by looking at the same scene once a month and noting down what I see at the edges of my vision without moving my eyes. Write it down and compare what you see over the months and if you see less, it is time to get a checkup.
For instance, right now I can look straight ahead and see the lamp to my right without moving my eyes. If the time comes when I don't see the stem of that lamp or the small file cabinet beneath it, I'm losing scope and that means it may be time to do something.
What a shame that your friend is in such pain! I will say a prayer for her. Why can't she get it fixed or at least get some effective pain management?
2 people like this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
16 Mar 13
I will test my eyes and see if I have good peripheal vision. I was starting to get them and so was my husband and the doctor said that was normal. I was told I could reverse it and have been trying to do it.
She can get pain management but because of our government health care, they will not do anything except give more pills. Our health care program is extremely wasteful.
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
15 Apr 13
I am seventy. My maternal grandmother got cataracts but she was in her eighties at the time. My father was diabetic and I was on the borderline, but lost weight - went into giving up trans fats, those diet stuff, and cutting down on bread. So I would be in no danger now - at least until I am in my eighties. I do not want to see an opthalmologist because it is not in my budget. I do have a insurance plan that includes eye exams, but it only pays part of the cost and that includes glasses. So I want to wait until everything else is paid up. Llke for instance my basement.
@Hatley (163781)
• Garden Grove, California
30 Mar 13
hi suspenseful I have a vision checkup every two years and I sure did not realize I had a cataract til the ophthalmologist told me and he said I have some macular degenerating in it but he insists having the cataract out will not really help but since he is older than I am I want a second opinion from a modern younger doctor as I think a cataract surgery would help me immensely,. I am in the uS and our medical situation is pretty rough here but I do have a great hmo for seniors. I did notice at night I was seeing a halo around the street lights so my friend Nelda said thats because I have a cataract.so that could be one of the symptoms too I hope you can find out if you are starting a cataract. Good luck and God bless. 
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
1 Apr 13
My words are blurry on my ipad when I first get up the morning and the doctor said that blurriness was a sign of astigmatism, because I note when I put on my glasses everything clears up. The thing is that I usually have my glasses in my purse or somewhere where they are not easily found so I have to adjust the screen to make the letters clearer. I have not seen a halo around the street lights, but then I really have not looked.
@jenny1015 (13366)
• Philippines
30 Mar 13
Astigmatism cause difficulty in focusing on things with a clear picture on the retina.This may be due to an irregular or toric curvature of the cornea or lens. A cataract is something that covers all of your eyes (clouding of the lens) that prevents one from seeing clearly.
The cause of cataract is not known until this day however, it is advisable to have an eye check up annually.
You can check on this link: http://www.mayoclinic.com/health/cataracts/DS00050/DSECTION=prevention
1 person likes this
@suspenseful (40193)
• Canada
1 Apr 13
It is definitely astigmatism because I have difficulty focusing. The doctor said because of my pre diabetes I have the start of a cataract, but so far it has not advanced. I will see that link. Have to replace my sun glasses.
