If you have been living with cataracts, you may have had little to no symptoms up to this point. However, if you find that you are having trouble with certain areas of your life, you may wonder if it is time to consider having surgery. If so, look for the following signs that the time has come to start thinking about having cataract surgery.

Inability to See While Driving at Night

As your cataracts worsen over time, you may start to notice that you are unable to see clearly while driving at night. Because the protein buildup has started to accumulate inside viscous liquid behind your lenses, the glare from headlights and street lamps may make you see auras or have blurry vision.

When you start having these symptoms, it will become increasingly dangerous for you to drive yourself at night. If driving is an activity that is enjoyable for you or is a necessity of your life, you may need to speak with an optometrist about having corrective surgery so you can continue driving.

Trouble Reading Even Large Print

Another thing you may start noticing is that you are having trouble reading. At first, you may be unable to read small print because the words are so blurry they appear to run together.

However, as your cataracts start growing larger, you may notice that you have trouble reading even larger print. While you could use a magnifying glass and extra light to read, it may be time to consider having surgery, especially if reading is something you feel you cannot live without.

Quality of Life Is Adversely Affected

One of the main signs that you may want to consider having surgery to remove your cataracts is that your overall quality of life has been affected. Along with the scenarios discussed in the previous sections, you may also notice that you are no longer able to enjoy other parts of your life.

For example, if you enjoy sewing or building models, your decreased vision may start making these activities more difficult to do. Eventually, your eyesight may become so bad that you are no longer able to do everything you want to do.

If you have noticed any of the above signs that your life is being impacted by your cataracts, you may want to consider having the surgery to correct them. Make an appointment with your optometrist to discuss your symptoms so you can come to a decision about the right treatment for your condition together.