Noticing Blurry Vision Around the Edges of Your Glasses?
If you've noticed your vision getting blurrier, especially around the edges of your glasses, this frustrating symptom could be caused by developing cataracts.
What are Cataracts?
A cataract is a clouding of the clear lens inside your eye, causing vision changes like blurriness, hazy vision, sensitivity to light and glare, seeing double images, and faded colors.
Cataracts typically develop slowly over many years as a part of the natural aging process. Proteins in the eye lens begin to break down and clump together, causing the lens to become cloudy and hard. This prevents light from properly focusing on your retina, leading to fuzzy and blurry vision.
Blurry Vision Around the Sides as an Early Symptom
Blurry vision around the edges of lenses or glasses frames is often one of the first noticeable vision changes from cataracts. This symptom develops gradually over time.
As cataracts cause the edges of your vision to get blurry, you may notice some frustrating effects like:
- Difficulty seeing things in your peripheral vision
- Feeling like you have to move your glasses around to find a clear spot
- Frequently cleaning your glasses because vision seems consistently blurry
- Having to sit close to the TV or hold reading material up close
Why Peripheral Vision is Often Impacted First
Peripheral vision around the edges becomes blurred from cataracts before straight ahead central vision because of the position and shape of the eye's lens.
The center of the lens focuses light more directly on the central retina to provide sharp vision for activities like reading, driving, and looking at faces. The outer edges of the lens focus images on the peripheral retina, where vision precision is less critical.
As the lens proteins start to clump from cataracts, vision around the sides and edges clouds up first. Sharp central vision usually stays clearer longer before also becoming impacted.
Other Vision Changes Caused by Cataracts
Blurry, hazy vision is the most common symptom, but developing cataracts can also cause other frustrating vision problems including:
- Double vision - Seeing overlapping ghost-like double images
- Dull, faded colors - Colors may look muted and less vivid
- Glare and halos - Bright lights appear too bright, with a halo effect
- Impaired night vision - More difficulty seeing and driving at night
- Nearsightedness - Prescription glasses may need stronger minus lenses
When to Get an Exam for Cataracts
Getting regular eye check ups helps catch vision changes from cataracts early. If you notice increased blurry vision that is getting worse over time, especially around the edges, see an eye doctor for an exam.
An ophthalmologist can carefully evaluate your vision symptoms and the condition of your lens with an eye chart test, slit lamp exam, and retinal imaging. They may recommend cataract surgery if blurriness begins interfering with daily activities.
Today's cataract removal is a very common and successful outpatient procedure. The cloudy natural lens causing vision problems is removed and replaced with a clear artificial intraocular lens (IOL) implant to permanently restore sharp vision.
Options to Treat Cataract-Related Blurry Vision
If your eye doctor confirms cataracts are causing blurry, fuzzy vision around the edges of your sight, you have options to help see clearly again:
New Prescription Glasses
Getting new glasses with your latest prescription can help temporarily counteract some mild cataract blurring. But its only a temporary fix as cataracts will continue to worsen over time.
Adjustable Focus Eyeglasses
Specialized eyeglasses with built-in adjustable-focus lenses allow you to sharpen either distance or near vision on demand. These can provide temporary relief for early-stage cataract blurriness.
Cataract Surgery
The only permanent solution to reverse blurry vision from cataracts is to undergo cataract surgery. This routine procedure removes the clouded natural lens causing vision problems and replaces it with a new intraocular lens implant.
Today's advanced no-stitch, no-patch cataract surgery is extremely safe and effective with a very quick recovery. Visual clarity is restored immediately for most normal daily activities, with final sharp vision in a few weeks.
Preventing Cataracts From Worsening Your Eyesight
While cataracts can eventually affect most people as they age, there are things you can do to potentially slow progression:
- Quit smoking to prevent toxins and free radicals from increasing cataract risk
- Maintain healthy weight, blood pressure, blood sugar
- Eat a balanced diet high in antioxidants
- Wear UV blocking sunglasses outside
- Get regular dilated eye exams to monitor for early cataract changes
Implementing a healthy lifestyle can help support your eye health and clarity of vision as you age. But if blurry vision does start impacting activities, cataract removal surgery is a safe, effective way to permanently restore sharp sight.
FAQs
Why is my vision getting blurry around the edges of my glasses?
This is a common early symptom of cataracts, which cause blurry, hazy vision as the clear lens inside your eye gradually becomes cloudy. Blurry peripheral vision happens first before impacting sharp central vision.
Will getting a new eyeglasses prescription help?
A updated glasses prescription may help counteract mild cataract blurriness, but it’s usually just a temporary fix. As the cataract worsens, vision will get blurrier over time regardless of new glasses.
Do I need surgery to fix the blurry vision from cataracts?
Yes, cataract surgery is the only permanent solution. The clouded natural lens causing blurry vision will be removed and replaced with a clear artificial lens implant to restore sharp vision.
Is cataract surgery safe and effective?
Modern cataract surgery is a very routine outpatient procedure with an excellent safety profile and over 95% patient satisfaction rate. Visual clarity immediately returns for most normal activities, with final sharp vision in a few weeks as you fully heal.
Can I prevent my cataracts from getting worse?
While cataracts eventually come for most people with age, implementing a healthy lifestyle with diet, exercise, no smoking, sunglass use, and routine eye exams helps support eye health and potentially slow down cataract progression.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Always consult with a healthcare professional before starting any new treatment regimen.
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