Are you having trouble seeing at night? Do you find you need more light to complete activities like driving and reading?
One of the earliest signs of cataracts is reduced or impaired night vision. This is because the formation of cataracts causes the eye’s naturally clear lens to cloud over, blocking light from entering the eye.
Cataract surgery can improve all aspects of your vision, including night vision. If you choose a premium IOL, you may be able to achieve even better night vision and reduce halos and glare.
Keep reading to learn more about how cataract surgery affects night vision.
What are Cataracts?
Cataracts develop when fibers and proteins within the natural lens of the eye start to form clumps over the inner surface of the lens and impair vision. They are almost always age-related and tend to develop slowly over time.
The only way to treat cataracts is through cataract surgery, a procedure that removes the natural lens and replaces it with a clear IOL, or intraocular lens. This can correct vision problems associated with cataracts, including poor night vision.
How Do Cataracts Affect Night Vision?
Cataracts cause many symptoms, including blurry vision, light sensitivity, and poor night vision. Cataracts can affect night vision in a variety of ways, including:
Halos and Glare
Cataracts can cause halos to appear around bright light sources, such as headlights and streetlights. They can also make bright light feel uncomfortably intense.
Halo and glare can make navigation in lowlight environments difficult or even dangerous.
Decreased Contrast
Cataracts can diminish the eyes’ ability to perceive contrast, particularly dark colors. Decreased contrast can further impair vision in darker environments and at night.
The inability to effectively distinguish contrasts in colors can lead to delayed reactions and reduce depth perception. It can also increase the risk of accidents in the home and on the road.
Blurry Vision
Blurry vision caused by cataracts can also impair night vision. Blurriness can make it harder to see clearly in low light or darkness.
When cataracts cause blurry vision, it can impact your quality of life. It can cause you to feel less safe about leaving your home or participating in activities you previously enjoyed.
If your cataracts have developed to the point where they are negatively impacting your social life and making it difficult to carry out daily tasks, it is time to consider cataract surgery.
What Will My Night Vision Be Like After Cataract Surgery?
Undergoing cataract surgery can restore impaired night vision from cataracts. It can help you see clearly in all levels of light and increase your confidence in your ability to drive safely at night.
Cataract surgery is the most commonly performed eye surgery, with millions of people undergoing the procedure every year in the US. During the procedure, your cataract surgeon at Rosenthal Eye Surgery will remove the natural lens of the eye and replace it with an IOL.
The IOL restores clear vision and prevents cataracts from ever re-forming. Certain premium IOLs can further improve night vision by reducing glare and halos and providing vision correction at multiple distances.
At Rosenthal Eye Surgery, we offer a variety of premium IOLs, including the TECNIS Symfony IOL, TECNIS Odyssey IOL, and the Clareon PanOptix IOL. Though most people can see more clearly within a few hours of surgery, it can take 4 to 6 weeks to realize the full results.
During this healing period, night vision slowly improves as the eyes fully heal. Impaired night vision is often one of the first signs of cataracts, but with cataract surgery, you can restore your ability to see clearly from dusk until dawn!
Do you want to learn more about how cataract surgery can improve your night vision? Schedule an appointment at Rosenthal Eye Surgery in New York, NY, today!
