A Little Clarity On Cataracts: Understanding, Diagnosing, And Treating Cataracts

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Your eyes play an important role in your daily life. From reading and driving to watching the news and your child's first steps, it is easy to see why having healthy eyes and vision is essential. Unfortunately, certain conditions may arise, reducing the quality of your vision and your underlying health. Considering an estimated 20.5 million Americans, 40 years of age or older, are affected by cataracts, learning about this common eye condition is smart. Using this guide, you will understand the signs, symptoms, and treatment options for cataracts.

The 101 on Cataracts

Before you understand cataracts, you must understand the anatomy of the eye.

The lens of your eye focuses images and light onto the retina, which is located at the back of your eye. The lens must be clear to allow these images of light to pass on to the retina before traveling to the brain. If the lens is cloudy, images will be blurry. This cloudiness is due to the formation of a cataract.

Age is the common cause of cataracts, but they may also develop from the following:

• Surgery – If you have undergone surgery for glaucoma or another eye issue, you may develop cataracts.
• Disease – Certain diseases can increase your risk of developing cataracts. For example, cataracts occur in many diabetic patients.
• Injury – Cataracts may form after a traumatic injury to the eye.
• Birth Defect – Congenital cataracts can form in babies and young children, as well. While these birth defects are small, surgical removal is necessary.
• Treatments – If you have undergone radiation treatment for cancer or other diseases, you may develop cataracts.

Signs of Cataracts

While surprising to hear, cloudy, blurred vision is not the only sign of cataracts. Here are a few other common signs of cataract formation:

• Haloed Vision – A halo forms in your vision around lights.
• Decreased Colors – Colored images may appear faded and light.
• Decreased Night Vision – Seeing at night or in the dark is difficult with cataracts.
• Doubled Vision – Many patients with cataracts may suffer with doubled vision.
• Frequent Changes in Vision Correction – If prescriptions for vision correction change frequently, you may be dealing with cataracts or other eye conditions.

If you are experiencing the above signs, visit your optometrist immediately. After performing a traditional eye exam, your doctor will dilate your eyes using specialized drops before examining the lens and optic nerve. To check for glaucoma and cataracts, a tonometer may also be used to measure the pressure in the eye.

Treating Cataracts

If you are dealing with an early stage of cataracts, your doctor may suggest correcting your vision with prescription eyeglasses and sunglasses to reduce the glare of light. Brighter lighting and magnifying glasses may be used at home to improve your vision, as well.

However, if you are experiencing vision troubles that interfere with your daily life, the cataracts should be removed. Also, if your cataracts are affecting treatment for other eye conditions, such as glaucoma, they should be removed.

You and your doctor will need to work together before determining the best option for surgical removal. Here are the two most common surgical procedures used to remove cataracts:

• Phaco – Phacoemulsification, which is also known as Phaco, uses ultrasound technology to break apart the cataract before removing it from the eye. Phaco still requires a small incision in the cornea, but it is a popular option for patients with cataracts.
• Extracapsular – During extracapsular surgery, your doctor makes a larger incision in the cornea, allowing sufficient space for removing the cloudy section of the lens. After removal, an artificial lens is implanted.

With proper planning and recovery, each form of cataract surgery is effective in 98 percent of cases.

Cataracts may be common, but they can wreak havoc on your lifestyle. Using this guide, you will understand this condition and learn the best options for treatment. For more information on dealing with eye issues, contact an eye doctor in your area today.

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11 December 2015