Cataracts are a common problem that can significantly impair vision. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, 24.4 million people aged 40 and over have cataracts. Over half of all Americans will have cataracts by the age of 75.
What exactly are cataracts? A cataract is a cloudy area that develops in the lens of the eye. Most cataracts form slowly and interfere with vision over time. It's possible for cataracts to develop in both eyes. To diagnose cataracts, your ophthalmologist will administer eye drops to widen, or dilate, the pupils. This allows the doctor to see the inside of the eye, providing the opportunity to check for cataracts and determine the health of your eyes. Keep reading to learn more about cataracts, including the causes of cataracts, symptoms of cataracts, and treatment options.
What Causes Cataracts?
Aging is the most common cause of cataracts. Most people develop cataracts as a result of normal changes that occur in the tissue of the eye's lens. Normally, the eye's lens is clear. As people age, the proteins in the eye's lens begin to break down over time, causing the proteins to clump together. This creates a cloudy area on the lens.
Cataracts make it difficult to see clearly because it's difficult for light to pass through the lingering pieces of protein in the lens. As these pieces of protein get bigger and thicker, vision becomes increasingly blurred. These risk factors also increase cataract development:
- Smoking
- Frequently spending time in the sun without wearing sunglasses
- Excessive consumption of alcohol
- Obesity
- High blood pressure
- Diabetes
- Experiencing an eye injury
- Previous eye surgery
- Taking certain medications, such as those that treat allergies or arthritis, for a prolonged period of time
- Family history of cataracts
Symptoms of Cataracts
It's possible to not experience any symptoms when cataracts first develop. However, as cataracts grow, most people notice changes in their vision, such as people or objects appearing hazy, blurry, or less colorful. While cataracts aren't painful, they can cause discomfort since your eyes are increasingly sensitive to light. Symptoms of cataracts include:
- Cloudy, foggy, or blurry vision
- Difficulty seeing well at night
- Increased sensitivity to light and glare
- Changes in the way colors are seen, such as yellowing or fading of colors
- Double vision
- Seeing halos around lights, especially while driving at night
- Problems with glare from the sun, headlights, or lamps
- Frequent changes in the prescription for glasses or contact lenses
Schedule an appointment with your eye doctor if you experience any of these symptoms. Cataracts can cause vision loss, so it's important to see your eye doctor as soon as possible.
How Are Cataracts Treated?
For people with mild cataracts, simply receiving a new prescription for glasses or contact lenses can improve vision. However, since cataracts worsen over time, surgery is the only effective treatment for removing the cataract. Surgery is recommended when cataracts prevent you from performing everyday activities, such as driving, reading, or watching TV.
For cataract surgery, you'll have to see an ophthalmologist. During the surgery, a surgeon removes the damaged and cloudy lens before replacing it with an artifical and clear lens. The artificial lens is placed in the same position as the original lens, and it functions as a permanent part of the eye.
Cataract surgery is performed as an outpatient procedure. If surgery is required for both eyes, your ophthalmologist will perform the second surgery after your eye fully heals. Vision improves quickly after cataract surgery, although it's normal to experience blurry vision during the healing process. Healing takes about two months, and the surgery has a high success rate, with approximately 90% of people seeing significantly better after surgery.