1. What Is a Cataract?
A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye that affects vision. The lens is the clear water and protein filled part of our eye that focuses light (images) onto the light sensitive area of the back of the eye called the retina, as well as allows us to focus on objects up close and far away (much like a camera lens). As we age, the lens protein clumps and causes the lens to become more and more cloudy. As the clumps grow larger and cloud more of the lens, the light that would normally pass through the lens to the retina is diffused (spread) or reduced and cannot reach the retina normally, thereby affecting vision.
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Cataracts can occur in one or both eyes. As they develop independently, cataracts cannot spread from one eye to the other.
2. Are There Other Types of Cataracts Besides Age-Related Cataracts?
- Secondary Cataract: These can develop after eye surgery for another eye problem such as glaucoma or in people with other health conditions such as diabetes. They can also be linked to steroid use in some cases.
- Traumatic Cataract: These develop after an eye injury. In some cases, it can take years after the initial injury or trauma for a traumatic cataract to develop.
- Congenital Cataract: Some babies are born with this type of cataract, and some children develop them in childhood. Often these develop in both eyes, and if they affect vision, may need to be surgically treated by an eye surgeon who specializes in pediatric ophthalmology.
- Radiation Cataract: These can form after exposure to certain types of radiation, such as ionization radiation from x-rays and cancer radiation therapy.
Understanding other conditions, incidences, and exposures that can lead to cataracts and awareness of cataracts in newborns, infants, and young children is important for awareness, early detection, and proper monitoring and treatment.
3. How Do Cataracts Affect Vision?
Most people will not notice vision changes due to cataracts early on in their development. As cataracts progress, vision changes will become more and more noticeable and may become problematic, interfering with normal, everyday activities. In our next blog post in this series, we’ll talk about when it’s time to consider cataract treatment (surgery).
4. What Are the Symptoms of Cataract?
- Cloudy, blurry, or “dim” vision
- Colors that seem faded or tinted yellowish or brownish
- Glare or halo from headlights, lamps or other sources of light or increasing sensitivity to light, such as sunlight that appears too bright
- Increasing difficulty seeing at night, particularly driving at night
- Double vision or multiple images in one eye
- Need for frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescriptions
Many of these symptoms are not unique to cataracts. If you have any of these symptoms, please contact us immediately. While cataracts are not an eye emergency, these symptoms may be signs of a more serious eye condition and should be checked by an eye doctor.
5. How Is a Cataract Detected?
- Visual Acuity Test, which determines how well you see at various distances
- Dilated Eye Exam, which allows your eye doctor to see the back of your eye, including your retina and optic nerve, once your pupils have been dilated with special drops
- Tonometry, which tests the pressure in your eye
6. Who Is at Risk for a Cataract?
- Aging
- Previous eye surgery
- Certain diseases such as diabetes
- Prolonged steroid / corticosteroid use
- Previous eye injury or trauma
- Exposure to ionizing radiation
In addition to these risks, the following increase the risk of developing cataracts:
- Drinking alcohol in excess
- Excessive exposure to sunlight
- Family history of cataracts
- High blood pressure
- Obesity
- Smoking
Generally, protecting your health and your eyes goes hand-in-hand. Living a healthy lifestyle can minimize your risk of developing cataracts and other vision threatening conditions.
7. How Common Are Cataracts?
8. How Are Cataracts Treated?
With more than 3 million cataract surgeries preformed each year in the United States and more than 20 million each year worldwide, cataract surgery is one of the most common surgical procedures. Recent advances in cataract surgery have allowed for smaller incisions and improved outcomes. Thankfully, the AAO states, “The success rate of cataract surgery is excellent. Improved vision is achieved in the majority of patients if other vision-limiting problems are not present.”
As cataracts are so prevalent and cataract surgery is so common, we’ll dedicate the rest of our blog posts in this Cataract Awareness Month series to surgery to these related subjects:
- Post 2: Is It Time for Cataract Surgery?
- Post 3: 7 Ways to Slow the Development of Cataracts Today and Everyday
- Post 4: What Is Small Incision Cataract Surgery and Is It Right For Me?
Learn More about Cataracts