{"id":110,"date":"2026-07-10T20:57:32","date_gmt":"2026-07-10T20:57:32","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.richmondeyeexperts.com\/blog\/?p=110"},"modified":"2026-07-23T21:00:31","modified_gmt":"2026-07-23T21:00:31","slug":"eye-exam-cataracts","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.richmondeyeexperts.com\/blog\/2026\/07\/10\/eye-exam-cataracts\/","title":{"rendered":"How Does an Eye Exam Detect Cataracts?"},"content":{"rendered":"<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"alignleft size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"300\" height=\"200\" src=\"https:\/\/www.richmondeyeexperts.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/07\/AdobeStock_1151593444-1.jpeg\" alt=\"Woman receiving a slit-lamp eye examination\" class=\"wp-image-111\" \/><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cataracts often develop gradually, so you may not notice the early changes in your vision. A <a href=\"https:\/\/www.richmondeyeexperts.com\/comprehensive-eye-exam.html\">comprehensive eye exam<\/a> allows your optometrist to examine the natural lens of each eye, identify cataracts, and determine whether they are affecting your vision or daily activities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<!--more-->\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What Is a Cataract?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A cataract is a cloudy area in the normally clear lens of the eye. Most cataracts are related to aging and develop slowly. Over time, they may cause blurry or hazy vision, faded colors, glare, halos around lights, and difficulty seeing at night.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Does an Optometrist Check for Cataracts?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Your optometrist may use several parts of a comprehensive eye exam to evaluate cataracts and rule out other causes of vision changes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Visual acuity and refraction:<\/strong> Reading an eye chart measures how clearly you see. A refraction determines whether an updated glasses or contact lens prescription improves your vision. These tests can show how much your vision is affected, but they do not diagnose a cataract by themselves.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Slit-lamp examination:<\/strong> A slit lamp is a microscope with a bright, focused light. It allows your optometrist to examine the lens directly and identify clouding consistent with a cataract.<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dilated eye examination:<\/strong> Dilating drops widen the pupils so your eye doctor can examine the lens, retina, and optic nerve more thoroughly. This also helps determine whether another <a href=\"https:\/\/www.richmondeyeexperts.com\/eye-disease.html\">eye condition<\/a> may be contributing to your symptoms.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">How Are Cataracts Treated?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">During the early stages, an updated prescription, brighter lighting, or glare-reducing strategies may help you function more comfortably. Surgery is the only way to remove a cataract, but most people do not need surgery immediately.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Cataract surgery may be recommended when blurry vision, glare, or reduced night vision begins interfering with driving, reading, work, or other daily activities. During surgery, an ophthalmologist removes the cloudy natural lens and replaces it with a clear artificial lens. Cataract surgery is one of the most common and effective procedures performed in the United States, and about 9 out of 10 patients see better afterward.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">When Should I Schedule an Eye Exam?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Schedule a comprehensive eye exam if you notice increasing blur, glare, halos, faded colors, difficulty driving at night, or frequent prescription changes. Sudden vision loss, significant eye pain, new flashes or floaters, or a curtain-like shadow in your vision is not typical of a cataract and requires prompt evaluation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\">About the Author<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Dr. Jordana Chettiparampil is a licensed therapeutic optometrist and a graduate of the University of Houston College of Optometry. She is a member of the Texas Optometric Association and other professional organizations. At Richmond Eye Experts, she diagnoses and monitors cataracts and coordinates referrals for cataract surgery when appropriate. To schedule an eye exam, use the <a href=\"https:\/\/scheduleyourexam.com\/v3\/index.php\/6249C1L\">online booking tool<\/a> or call (832) 685-2020.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\"><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Cataracts often develop gradually, so you may not notice the early changes in your vision. A comprehensive eye exam allows your optometrist to examine the natural lens of each eye, identify cataracts, and determine whether they are affecting your vision or daily activities.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-110","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-uncategorized"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v28.1 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>Eye Exam for Cataracts Richmond | Richmond Eye Experts<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Learn how an optometrist checks for cataracts during a comprehensive eye exam and when cataract surgery may be recommended.\" \/>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link 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