Causes
The lens clouds naturally as we age, so people over age 65 usually see a gradual reduction of vision. Cataracts can also be caused by complications of other diseases such as diabetes and glaucoma, side effects of certain medications such as steroids, infection, trauma or hereditary disorders. Eating a lot of salt may also increase your risk of cataracts.
Symptoms
Common symptoms of cataracts include hazy or blurred vision, increased glare from bright lights or sunlight, seeing halos around lights, light sensitivity, night vision difficulty, double vision in one eye or temporarily improved near vision.
Most Common Treatments
Cataracts are classified as one of three types: nuclear, cortical or subcapsular. A nuclear cataract is most commonly seen as it forms, due to aging changes. This cataract appears in the center of the lens, and can bring about a temporary improvement in your near vision, called "second sight." Unfortunately, the improved vision is short lived and will disappear as the cataract worsens.
A cortical cataract gradually extends spokes from the outside of the lens to the center. Many diabetics develop cortical cataracts.
A plastic lens a surgeon might use to replace the cataract patient's clouded one. The Array Multifocal by Allergan provides near, intermediate, and distance vision.
A subcapsular cataract begins at the back of the lens and may not produce any symptoms until the cataract is well developed. People with diabetes, high farsightedness (hyperopia), retinitis pigmentosa or taking high doses of steroids may develop a subcapsular cataract.
Think about surgery when your cataracts have developed enough to seriously impair your vision and affect your daily life. Many people consider poor vision simply a factor of aging, but cataract surgery is a simple, relatively painless procedure to regain vision. This surgery is the most frequently performed procedure in the United States, and also one of the most successful. More than 90 percent of cataract surgery patients regain useful vision.
During surgery, a small incision is made in the eye to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with a clear plastic lens, called an implant. Without an implant, you would need to wear very strong glasses or contact lenses. Sometimes months or years after cataract surgery, opacities develop behind the implant. This is easily remedied with a laser procedure. Count on needing a new pair of glasses or contact lenses after surgery, as your pre-surgery prescription will likely be too strong.
Remember that cataracts cannot be prevented, simply due to the lens changes as the body ages. However, some precautions may slow the development of cataracts. Wear dark sunglasses to prevent ultraviolet (UV) light rays, especially UVB rays, from hitting the eye. Heavy exposure to UV rays can hasten cataract development, and there is evidence that effects may be cumulative over many years. This means that no one is too young to protect their eyes with sunglasses.
Some eye care practitioners believe that a diet high in antioxidants, such as beta carotene (vitamin A), selenium and vitamins C and E, may forestall cataract development. Avoiding other risk factors, such as cigarette smoke, air pollution and heavy alcohol consumption, may also help.
