June is Cataract Awareness Month. This makes it a perfect time to learn what cataracts are, when they occur and what to expect if you develop them.
A cataract occurs when the clear lens of the eye becomes cloudy, impacting your eyesight. A cataract can happen in one eye or both and with different degrees of severity. Most cataracts are caused by aging. People over the age of 60 usually have some clouding of their natural lens. By the age of 80, over half of Americans will either have cataracts or will have had cataract surgery.
Here are symptoms and signs to look out for:
- Cloudy or blurry vision
- Double vision
- Trouble seeing in very bright or very dim lighting
- Eyes appearing yellow, white, or foggy
- Frequent changes to your glasses or contact lens prescription
In the early stages, cataracts can be managed with an update to your glasses or contact lens prescription. In later stages, when glasses or contact lenses no longer improve your vision, treating cataracts requires surgery. During surgery, the cloudy lens of the eye is removed and replaced with a new intraocular lens implant. This is an outpatient procedure performed by an ophthalmologist and does not typically require a hospital stay. It's one of the most commonly performed outpatient procedures in the United States. Complications are rare but can occur, especially if you have another eye or medical condition. Your eye doctor will let you know how to prepare for surgery, but one thing to note is that you will need a safe ride home since you won’t be able to drive on the day of your surgery.
Here are some things you can do to delay the formation of cataracts for as long as possible:
- Maintain a healthy weight and diet
- Avoid smoking
- Avoid alcohol
- Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful ultraviolet rays
- See your eye doctor regularly
Fortunately, cataracts are a treatable condition and once you have surgery, your vision should be restored. Sometimes a secondary cataract may develop. This is caused by the formation of scar tissue behind the intraocular lens implant. It's easily be treated in the eye doctor’s office with a special laser. After each procedure, your eye doctor will request follow up visits to ensure proper healing and recovery.
