A cataract is when the clear lens of your eye is cloudy. Having cataracts can create difficulty reading, driving a car — especially at night or seeing the expression on a person’s face.
About
What causes cataracts?
The lens lies behind your eye’s iris and pupil. This lens focuses light onto the retina at the back of your eye where an image is displayed. The lens also functions to adjust the eye’s focus, which allows you to clearly see things near point and at a distance. Lenses consist of mostly water and protein. That protein is precisely arranged in a way to keep the lens clear — letting light pass through it.
During the aging process, some of the protein can clump together creating a cloud (cataract) on a small area of the lens. Eventually the cataract may increase in size and cloud more of the lens, which makes vision problematic.
It is suspected in the scientific field that smoking and diabetes, along with several other potential causes, make us vulnerable to cataracts. However it may also be a result of the toll the lens takes from wear and tear over the years.
Symptoms
- Clouded, blurred or dim vision
- Increasing difficulty with vision at night
- Sensitivity to light and glare
- Seeing “halos” around lights
- Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescription
- Fading or yellowing of colors
- Double vision in a single eye
Prevention
Maintaining regular exams with your eye care specialist will ensure that you’re monitoring your vision properly. The optometrist will be able to note changes in vision between each appointment. You must also control diseases that increase the risk of a cataract and avoid exposure to things that promote cataract formation. It’s always beneficial to wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from harmful UV rays when outdoors.
Diagnosis
Eye exams are done with a slit-lamp exam. An optometrist will shine a light into your eye and looking through a scope, be able to see in the back of your eye.
Questions to Ask Your Health Care Provider
- How often should I see my eye doctor for routine exams?
- My vision is sometimes blurry; does that mean I have cataracts?
- I have a family history of cataracts, will I get them?
- Will I experience further vision loss?
- Will taking a vitamin or mineral supplement help prevent further vision loss?
- What’s the best way to monitor my vision for any changes?
- What low vision aids or adaptive devices might be helpful to me?
- Is it safe for me to drive?
- Can I remove cataracts?
Treatments
During the early stages, the effects of cataracts may be improved with new eyeglasses, brighter lighting, anti-glare sunglasses or magnifying lenses. Surgery is the only successful treatment if none of the previously mentioned measures help. This involves the removal of the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial lens. Cataract patients may also have other age-related eye conditions, such as macular degeneration or glaucoma. Be sure to talk to your healthcare provider about how these conditions may be related.
Resources
For More Information Visit
National Eye Institute
American Optometric Association
Lighthouse International
Men’s Health Network