Your eye has a clear lens through which light passes allowing
you to see. Cataracts are a clouding of the lens of the eye. The clouded
lens distorts and blocks the passage of light to the retina, causing
vision to be blurred. While cataracts can affect people of any age, they
are most common in older adults. It is a natural part of the aging process.
Cataracts usually start as very small and practically unnoticeable
but gradually grow larger and cloudier. Colors are duller
and vision may grow fuzzy. Glare is bothersome in both
bright sunlight and at night.
Cataracts are caused from years
of exposure to sunlight. In younger people they can result
from an injury, certain medications, or illnesses such as
diabetes. Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light may also play a role
in the formation of cataracts. Studies have also shown that people who
smoke cigarettes have a higher risk of developing cataracts than non-smokers.
It is important to continue to visit your eye doctor regularly so the
cataract's progress is monitored. If your cataract is interfering
with your vision to the point where it is unsafe to drive,
or doing everyday tasks is difficult, then it's time to discuss surgery
with your doctor.
Although cataracts usually develop without apparent
pain, some indications that a cataract may be forming
are as follows:
Blurred or hazy vision
Double vision
Poor vision in bright light
Seeing halos around lights
Yellowish tinged vision
Night Vision difficulty
If visual impairment interferes with your ability
to read, work, or do the things you enjoy then you will want to consider
cataract surgery. Surgery is the only proven means of effectively
treating cataracts. Cataract surgery is relatively
painless and is one of the most frequently performed
procedures. It has a very high success rate and more
than 90 percent of cataract surgery patients regain
useful vision.
More information about Cataract
Surgery at Northwest Eye Physicians
