Cataracts
Cataract Surgery
A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s naturally clear lens. Vision through eyes with cataracts is characterized as looking through a foggy window or piece of wax paper. Cataract development is usually a very gradual process of normal aging, but can occasionally occur rapidly. Many people are unaware that they have cataracts because the changes in their vision are so gradual. Cataracts are very common, affecting roughly 60% of people over the age of 60, and over 1.5 million cataract surgeries are performed in the United States each year.
A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens inside the eye. Cataracts are the leading cause of treatable blindness in all areas of the world, especially in adults 55 and older.
Understanding Cataracts
Age-related cataracts develop very slowly and painlessly. In fact, you may not even realize that our vision is changing until you find yourself going to the eye doctor seeking a change in our eyeglass or contact lens prescription. It is often during one of these routine trips that the doctor will perform an eye examination and ask if we are experiencing any of the following symptoms.
- Blur or Dimness: You may notice that no matter how many times you have your eyeglass or contact prescription updated you just can’t see clearly.
- Faded or Dull Colors: Many people report that things look dingy or that what they remember as once being very colorful isn’t anymore.
- Poor Night Vision: A cataract can make once routine tasks, like driving at night, very difficult.
- Halos Around Lights: Cataracts can cause us to see bright halos around lights, especially oncoming headlights.
- Sensitivity to Bright Light: You may notice that it has become more painful to walk out into bright sunlight or you may see the exaggerated glare off of reflective surfaces like windshields.
Learn more about cataracts by clicking the links below and watching the videos.
