Vision problems? How to know if you have a cataract

We often think cataracts only affect older people.

But, it can hit you sooner than you think.

Jason Ford knew it was time to see a doctor when his vision started to get hazy.   It affected him the most on the road, especially driving at night. 

He says, "I would feel lost because i couldn't read the road signs, very discouraging when you used to be able to see, then everything becomes hazy for you."  

Jason is just 46. He's worn glasses since he was a boy, but 6 months ago, it got much worse.   

Jason says, "If you would sit in a room with bright light it would look like a haze throughout the room it looks like someone was cooking with grease."   

After seeing a doctor at the Katzen Eye Group, Jason found out he had a cataract.

Dr. Joe Navaleza with the Katzen Eye Group says, "A cataract is basically a clouding of the natural human lens and when you have a clouding of that lens patients will notice decreased vision."   

Jason got surgery, it only took a few minutes and there was no pain.

He says, "I told one of the nurses it was like HDTV, it was wonderful, all the colors were brighter, everything was beautiful." 

Dr. Navaleza says, "The average cataract surgery will take about 10 minutes. It's painless you go home the same day and your only medications you're on afterwards are eye drops."  

Dr. Navaleza says cataracts typically affect senior citizens. But in rare cases, you can get them when you're younger. And if you don't get them treated, your vision will get worse.

Dr. Navaleza says, "If you decide not to treat your cataracts your cloudy lens will continue to get cloudy and you will get blurry vision."  

Jason is glad he got it treated.  He says, “It's great. I can see the computer clearly, I can see the TV clearly, I can drive with no problems, road signs are clearer to me than most people."