Cataracts
A Cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye. The effect of a Cataract that vision in your affected eye will be blurry or cloudy, or colors will seem more dim. Having a Cataract is sort of like looking through a dirty window.
Normally, light enters your eye, and the lens focuses it onto the retina. If the lens is clear, the light will focus light properly. When the lens has a Cataract, the light can’t focus properly.
Because cataracts usually develop gradually as a person ages, changes in vision may not be noticed right away. As a Cataract progresses, the following symptoms may appear:
- Cloudy, blurred or dimmed vision
- Needing to change eyeglass or contact lens prescriptions frequently
- Increased difficulty with night vision, or low light conditions
- Needing more light to read
- Double vision, usually with one eye
- Sensitivity to bright lights and glare
- Halos around lights
- Colors that appear faded or more yellow
Cataract Symptoms
What Causes Cataracts?
The most common type of Cataract is age-related. Proteins in the lenses sometimes form clumps that become cloudy enough to preventing light from passing clearly through the eye. Sometimes, the clouding may affect all of the lens, causing severe vision problems.
How Common Are Cataracts?
By age 75, about 70 percent of people will have age-related Cataracts to one degree or another. Several factors can increase your risk of developing cataracts.
How Are Cataracts Treated?
Surgery is the only permanent treatment. But surgery may not be needed if your vision is only slightly affected.
IOL Options
Intraocular lenses (IOL) are implantable lenses that are inserted into the eye during CATARACT surgery. Advances in IOL implants have given CATARACT surgery patient’s more options before surgery whether you have myopia, hyperopia, presbyopia, and/or have an astigmatism.
