Blurred or double vision. Sensitivity to light and glare. An ophthalmologist can see the earliest evidence of a cataract using sophisticated instruments to view the inside of the eye. In this advanced state, the pupil may appear white or yellowish. Once a cataract has caused visual loss, surgery is the only accepted treatment.
Opinions vary on when to perform cataract surgery.
The decision to operate is based on each patient's individual needs . If a cataract is causing loss of sight that interferes with a person's normal activities, it is appropriate to consider cataract surgery. Basically, cataract surgery involves removing the cloudy lens. Another method, phacoemulsification, uses an ultrasonic device to fragment and remove the lens. The surgery is always done in a sterile operating facility, most often using local anesthesia.