Cataracts

Inside our eyes, we have a natural lens. The lens bends (refracts) light rays that come into the eye to help us see. The lens should be clear. But, if you have a cataract, your lens has become cloudy. It is like looking through a foggy our dusty car windshield. Things look blurry, hazy or less colorful with a cataract.

What are Cataracts?

Glaucoma is an asymptomatic disease that damages the eye’s optic nerve in the back of your eye. It is the part of the eye that sends images captured directly from the eye to the brain. The eye is responsible for draining accumulation of fluid in the eye through ducts alongside the iris, the colored part of the eye. Glaucoma usually occurs from excess fluid that collects in the front part of the eye. This fluid imbalance results in increased pressure throughout the eye and may cause the tissue surrounding the optic nerve to lose blood flow and ability to function. The damage impacted on the optic nerve fibers may eventually cause permanent peripheral vision loss.

Symptoms Associated with Cataracts

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Blurry vision

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Seeing double

(when you see two images instead of one)

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Seeing faded colors or dulled images

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Being extra sensitive to light

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Having trouble seeing well at night, or needing more light when you read

Aging is the most common cause of cataracts. This due to normal eye changes that happen starting around age 40. That is when normal proteins in the lens start to break down. This is what causes the lens to get cloudy. People over age 60 usually start to have some clouding of their lenses. However, vision problems may not happen until years later.

Most age-related cataracts develop gradually. Other cataracts can develop more quickly, such as those in younger people or those in people with diabetes. Doctors cannot predict how quickly a person’s cataract will develop.

What causes cataracts?

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Aging

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Having parents, brothers, sisters, or other family members who have cataracts

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Having certain medical problems, such as diabetes

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Having had an eye injury, eye surgery, or radiation treatments on your upper body

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Having spent a lot of time in the sun, especially without sunglasses that protect your eyes from damaging ultraviolet (UV) rays

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The use of certain medications such as corticosteroids may cause early formation of cataracts.

Cataracts can be removed only with surgery.

If your cataract symptoms are not bothering you very much, you don’t have to remove the cataract. You might just need a new eyeglass prescription to help you see better. You should consider surgery when cataracts keep you from doing things you want or need to do.

Cataracts Testing & Treatment