Diagnosing Cataracts: An Overview
In order to make a cataract diagnosis, your doctor will ask you a number of questions about your medical history and will perform an eye exam. A cataract diagnosis is made through a comprehensive eye exam that includes:
- Visual acuity test. This eye chart test measures how well you see at various distances.
- Dilated eye exam. Drops are placed in your eyes to widen, or dilate, the pupils. Your eye care professional uses a special magnifying lens to examine your retina and optic nerve for signs of damage and other eye problems. After the exam, your close-up vision may remain blurred for several hours.
- Tonometry. An instrument measures the pressure inside the eye. Numbing drops may be applied to your eye for this test.
Your eye care professional also may do other cataract tests to learn more about the structure and health of your eye.
Diagnosing Cataracts: Summary
Although you might think you have a cataract, the only way to know for sure is by having an eye examination. Should your eye care professional find one, he or she can monitor it and advise you about any future
cataract treatment you may need.
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