According to the National Eye Institute, more than half of all seniors over 80 deal with cataracts. With cataracts being so common, it's important that we understand how to deal with them.
But can cataracts cause headaches, and if so, how do we deal with them?
Woodbury, NJ, is one of the finest cities to spend your golden years. Our city has gorgeous green spaces, a robust antique shopping district, and is only half an hour away from Philadelphia. That makes it a perfect "best of both worlds" scenario!
If you're interested in Woodbury wellness, then eye wellness is the place to start. Read on to learn more about senior eye health, cataract awareness, and more.
Cataracts are a common term, but there's a lot that the average patient doesn't know. Can cataracts cause headaches, and if so, how can we alleviate these headache causes?
We'll go more in-depth later, but to start, yes, cataracts can cause headaches
Cataracts affect your vision, leaving you with permanently irritated -- and often mismatched -- eyes. That leaves you with many aging vision symptoms, not the least of which is a headache.
That said, there's much more to know. Read on for a more in-depth view of cataracts and headaches.
What are cataracts, and how do they impact your vision? What is it about them that causes headaches?
Cataracts are a clouded spot on the lens of your eye. Your lens is responsible for taking and focusing light into your eye. Cataracts can appear for many reasons, but they're highly common in seniors.
The majority of seniors get cataracts at some point as they age. Cataracts are so common that many medical professionals consider them a normal part of aging.
While you research cataracts, you'll see many different "types" of them. Cataracts are named based on where on your eye's lens.
According to the Mayo Clinic, the three most common types of cataracts are:
While these are the three most common, they are far from the only ones! Speak to a medical professional to see what cataract you have.
A common way to develop a cataract is through trauma or injury. Common causes of trauma are things like falls or a bump to the head.
Traumatic cataracts are often more difficult to repair. That's because the trauma may have also damaged the area around the lens.
As a result, trauma-based cataracts are often among the more severe causes. It may require surgery to repair more of the eye to alleviate your headaches.
If you have cataract symptoms post-surgery, professionals dub it a secondary cataract. That means that something is causing your artificial lens to fog or cloud up post-surgery. Secondary cataracts are not uncommon but will require corrective surgery in most cases.
Can cataracts cause headaches? Yes, but what other symptoms will you need to deal with? Here are some of the main symptoms of cataracts.
Cataracts will almost always cause your vision to blur. Blurred vision is often the cause of your headache! That's especially an issue when dealing with bright light.
Another symptom is that sources of light, such as lamps and street lights, have a halo or pattern around them. If you're familiar with astigmatism, then you've experienced this symptom. The light sensitivity, combined with the blurred vision, can cause strain to your mind.
Issues with bright lights don't make low light less troublesome. Many cataract patients report issues with dim lighting.
If you're a senior who drives, cataracts make night drives exceptionally dangerous. You'll also have difficulty navigating or walking in low lighting, so be careful!
If you're having difficulty getting around, consider your perks as an assisted living community member. Our professional staff is happy to help you navigate!
Cataracts are not painful directly. However, many of their symptoms can cause discomfort. Your headache is the most obvious, but what else should you expect?
Cataracts can cause your eye to feel permanently irritated. The extra strain on your eyes will be part of what causes your headaches.
A great strategy is to use tinted sunglasses until your eyes are treated. Doing so will help protect your senior eye health from brighter light sources.
Now that we better understand cataracts, what should you expect from the surgery and recovery process? Here's a brief overview of what your recovery will look like.
Cataract surgery is considered very safe. According to the Cleveland Clinic, there are more than 3 million cataract surgeries every year.
That doesn't mean your surgery is without risks. Retinal detachment or infection is still possible.
During the surgery, your lens is removed from your eye. It is then replaced with an intraocular lens, or IOL. That synthetic lens will take over for your cataracted lens!
Cataract surgery has a recovery period of about six to eight weeks. That amounts to about two months on the longer end.
Everyone will heal differently, so make sure you're taking care of yourself! Here at Woodbury, we have plenty of safety-focused community events that you'll enjoy during recovery.
Some symptoms that you should expect to battle are:
These symptoms are usually handled by a light painkiller prescription. Speak to your doctor about what medicines will help you the most during your recovery.
Can cataracts cause headaches? Since they're not neurologically linked to your brain, cataracts will not directly cause headaches.
However, cataracts cause a number of other symptoms that can cause your headaches. These include clouded or blurry vision, light sensitivity, mismatched eye strength, and more.
Here at Woodbury Mews, we know what it's like to have a bright vision for your senior years. We're proud to offer you a pet-friendly senior living community with beautiful outdoor spaces and enriching experiences. Contact us to see how we can help your golden years shine.