Question About A Trace Cataract
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Hello,
About 6 or 7 years ago, while giving me a dialated eye exam, my optometrist said something about me having a trace cataract. But he said it was nothing to worry about. Every year I see him for a check up and ask how does the cataract look? He says it's nothing to worry about. Well he retired this spring, so I had to find a new doctor. I starting asking my friends about eye doctors and who they liked. One doctors name kept coming up, followed by how good he is. He was a cataract and retinal specialist. I saw him Monday and asked him about my cataract and how it looks. He said it's a trace cataract and nothing to worry about. I said it doesn't require treatment? He said no, don't worry about it. Made me feel good, but I still have something there. Is a trace cataract really nothing to worry about? Will it get worse all always just be there as a trace cataract? Thanks
1 like, 2 replies
Night-Hawk melinda2001
Posted
I found this info from a google search on "trace cataract":
Cataracts are a condition, which progresses over time. The more dense the cataracts become the more severe symptoms are. They are usually white but can be tinted yellow or brown. This can affect the way colors appear. When cataracts first appear the changes in the lens are so mild they are called “trace cataracts”. As these changes progress they will be called “mild to moderate” and once the cloudiness becomes very pronounced they are called “mature or ripe cataracts”.
That very early stage cataract is only detectable at an eye exam, and usually won't affect vision for years. My right eye was first seen at the eye doctor to have a very early stage cataract 10 years ago, it didn't effect my vision significantly to require cataract surgery until last year. So you probably have many years to go before it may start to effect your vision, hence nothing to worry about.
derek40125 melinda2001
Posted
My cataracts were originally identified the same way. About two-half years after first discovery, I went to a surgeon who tested me and said I probably had several years left before he'd need to see me again. I was starting to notice some added glare at that time and a hint of cloudiness. Almost a year to the day after that visit, I had surgery with another doctor (on my right eye only).
When first discovered, the doctor said that the cataracts looked to be about the same (and both barely noticeable). However, they didn't progress at the same rate. The one in the left eye still doesn't impact my vision beyond just a small amount of glare at night when I see bright lights. With the right eye, the cataract became very obvious and I knew when it was time for surgery based on my declining vision in that eye (I reached the point where I felt I was safer driving with only one eye open).
Hopefully you will have many years left before this becomes a concern for you. However, since you do have cataracts, the chances are you will require surgery at some point in the future. There isn't really anything you can do to slow the progress although some things, such as steroids, could accelerate it.
If you spend any time on this or other forums reading about cataracts, you'll see many discussions on IOL (lens) types and target options. There are some strategies, such as monovision (correcting each eye to see a different range) where it's hard to predict how the brain will adapt. If you reach the point where you start noticing the cataract, it would be a good time to have an optometrist prescribe you contacts or glasses to simulate this type of correction strategy. This is something that few people do and by the time the cataracts have progressed to the point where you need surgery, your vision will have deteriorated too much for this type of test to be worthwhile.