Information About Cataracts

Lasersurgeryforeyes.com provides a listing of Laser Vision Correction Surgeons. Some of the surgeons may include cataract removal surgery in their practice, but not all the surgeons in our directory perform this procedure.

"Cataracts are a leading cause of blindness among adults in the United States, accounting for one out of every seven cases of blindness in people age 45 and older. Although most prevalent in adults, a cataract can occur in young people, and can sometimes be found in a baby's eyes at birth."
 
- Prevent Blindness America

Over 95% of cataract surgeries improve vision, but a small number of patients may have problems. Symptoms including infection, bleeding and swelling or detachment of the retina are some of the more serious complications that may affect your vision. Call your ophthalmologist immediately if you have any of the following symptoms after surgery:

• Pain not relieved by non-prescription pain medication
• Loss of vision
• Nausea, vomiting or excessive coughing
• Injury to the eye top

A person with cataract views the world as if through a dirty window or a windshield that needs defrosting. Glare becomes a serious problem. Color perception becomes muted. Reading, driving, computer work, hobbies, and athletics become less easy and eventually impossible due to diminished vision.

Unfortunately there is no proven medical treatment to prevent, delay, or reverse the development of cataracts in adults. Many medical agents are under investigation, but none have been proven absolutely effective. There is evidence however that antioxidants, specifically vitamins A, C, and E may delay the development of cataracts.

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What are the Symptoms?

A cataract is a progressive clouding of the human lens inside the eye. The lens is a small oval like structure and consists of a thin capsule (like saran wrap) enveloping a bag of protein. The protein is crystal clear and colorless at birth but discolors and clouds with age: first yellow, then brown, and finally cloudy. When the lens becomes cloudy and interferes with vision, it is called a cataract. The lens no longer transmits or focuses light clearly. A cataract is not a growth, a "skin", or a disease. It is usually not a sign of eye or systemic disease. Usually cataracts affect both eyes but often develop at different rates in each eye.

Do cataracts get worse?

Yes. The clouded areas become larger and denser and cause the patient's sight to become worse. The time taken for this to happen varies from a few months to many years.

Why can't the doctor just change my glasses to make me see better?

Glasses focus light, they do not improve transmission of light. If a window has dirt on it, even with binoculars we cannot see through it clearly.

Symptoms of cataracts include:

• Painless blurring or dimming of your vision
• Sensitivity to light and glare, especially in bright sunlight or while driving at night
• Increased nearsightedness, requiring frequent changes in your eyeglass prescription
• Distortion or ghost images in either eye

Smoking accelerates cataract development and should be avoided. Some improvement with glasses is possible until the cataract becomes severe.

Routine eye exams are important in watching for cataract formation that may be the result of medicines or general illnesses.

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How are Cataracts Diagnosed?

A regular eye exam is all that is needed to find a cataract. Your eye doctor will ask you to read a letter chart to see how sharp your vision is. You will probably get eye drops to enlarge your pupils. This helps the doctor to see the inside of your eyes. The doctor will use a bright light to see whether your lenses are clear and to check for other problems in the back of your eyes.

Other eye tests may also be used occasionally to show how poorly you see with cataract or how well you might see after surgery:

• Visual acuity test: This eye chart test measures how well you see at various distances.
• Pupil dilation: The pupil is widened with eyedrops to allow your eye care professional to see more of the lens and retina and look for other eye problems.
• Tonometry: This is a standard test to measure fluid pressure inside the eye.
• Glare test
• Contrast sensitivity test
• Potential vision test
• Specular photographic microscopy

Only a few people need these tests.

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How does a cataract affect vision?

Initially the cataract changes the focusing power of the eye, and a change of glasses can satisfactorily improve vision. Gradually, clarity drops so that visual tasks become increasingly difficult, despite the best possible glasses.

A person with cataract views the world as if through a dirty window or a windshield that needs defrosting. Glare becomes a serious problem. Color perception becomes muted. Reading, driving, computer work, hobbies, and athletics become less easy and eventually impossible due to diminished vision.

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What are the different type of cataracts?

Age-related cataract: Most cataracts are related to aging.

Congenital cataract: Some babies are born with cataracts or develop them in childhood, often in both eyes. These cataracts may not affect vision. If they do, they may need to be removed.

Secondary cataract: Cataracts are more likely to develop in people who have certain other health problems, such as diabetes. Also, cataracts are sometimes linked to steroid use.

Traumatic cataract: Cataracts can develop soon after an eye injury, or years later

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When should you have cataract surgery?

Cataract surgery is elective. It is done only when the person wants and needs it. Everyone has a different personality and different needs. Choose to have surgery when you cannot see to enjoy or perform to your satisfaction in jobs, hobbies, driving, athletics or outdoor activities. Some people are more demanding of their vision, and have surgery earlier than others who are not troubled by diminished vision.

Between the ages of 52 and 64 you have a 50% chance of having a cataract, but you probably won't experience any problems with your vision until about 65. By 75 years of age, just about everyone has a cataract; and people between 75 and 85 years of age 50% of the have lost some vision as a result.

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What are my choices?

Non-Surgical Cataract Treatment

There is no non-surgical treatment for a cataract. Preventative measures include wearing good ultraviolet (UV) blocking sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun. Anti-oxidant vitamins may retard cataract changes. Smoking accelerates cataract development and should be avoided. Some improvement with glasses is possible until the cataract becomes severe. Routine eye exams are important in watching for cataract formation that may be the result of medicines or general illnesses.

Secondary cataract

From several months to several years after successful cataract surgery, a cloud may develop behind the lens implant. This secondary cataract and will blur vision much as the original cataract did.

The YAG laser is used in the treatment of secondary cataracts. The YAG laser makes a small opening in the cloudy membrane behind the lens implant. This requires 2 minutes and usually results in immediate vision improvement. The YAG laser is not used for the original cataract surgery. Read more on cataract removal surgery.

For more information about Cataracts, visit AllAboutVision.com.

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