Cataracts

Cataracts affect millions of people each year, including more than half of all Americans age 60 and older. A cataract is the clouding of the eye's natural lens. Cloudiness develops as a result of a buildup of protein in the lens. Cataracts can occur in either one eye or both eyes. If left untreated, cataracts will worsen over time and may lead to permanent vision loss or even blindness.

Causes of Cataracts

The lens within the eye clouds naturally as we age, causing a gradual reduction of vision. There are numerous other causes of cataracts, including:

Injury
Medication
Illness
Diabetes
Alcohol use
Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light
Smoking
Family history of cataracts
Exposure to radiation
A result of eye surgery

Diagnosis of Cataracts

A series of tests are performed in order to diagnose a cataract. Some of these tests may include:

• A dilated eye exam
• Visual acuity test
• Tonometry

Symptoms of Cataracts

Patients with cataracts often do not experience any symptoms when the condition first develops. Cataracts will continue to progress with no apparent pain, although patients may experience some of the following symptoms:

Blurry or hazy vision
Double vision
Colors that appear to be faded
Poor vision in bright light
Seeing halos around lights
Poor night time vision
Yellowish tinged vision
Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescriptions

Treatment of Cataracts

Early cataracts can sometimes be treated with non-surgical methods such as:

New eyeglass prescription
Anti-glare sunglasses
Magnifying lenses
Installing lighting that is brighter

If the cataracts begin to interfere with reading ability, work or other daily activities, cataract surgery may be recommended. If cataracts are in both eyes, surgery will be performed on one eye at a time, usually four to eight weeks apart. Cataract surgery is the most commonly performed surgical procedure in the United States.

Prevention of Cataracts

While you cannot prevent cataracts from developing, you can certainly delay their formation by taking some preventative measures such as:

Wearing a wide brimmed hat to block ultraviolet sunlight when outdoors
Wearing sunglasses that block ultraviolet sunlight
Quitting smoking
Eating green leafy vegetables, fruits and foods high in antioxidants