What are cataracts?

 

A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens, which lies behind the iris and the pupil. Cataracts are the most common cause of vision loss in people over age 40 and is It develops slowly and eventually interferes with your vision.

Symptoms of Cataracts

Common symptoms of cataracts include:

• Blurry vision,
• Trouble seeing at night
• Seeing colors as faded
• Increased sensitivity to glare
• Halos surrounding lights
• Double vision in the affected eye
• A need for frequent changes in prescription glasses

What Causes Cataracts?

There are several underlying causes of cataracts. These include:

• An overproduction of oxidants, which are oxygen molecules that have been chemically altered due to normal daily life
• Smoking
• Ultraviolet radiation
• The long-term use of steroids and other medications
• Certain diseases, such as diabetes
• Trauma
• Radiation therapy

Risk Factors of Cataracts

Risk factors associated with cataracts include:

• Older age
• Heavy alcohol use
• Smoking
• Obesity
• High blood pressure
• Previous eye injuries
• A family history of cataracts
• Too much sun exposure
• Diabetes
• Exposure to radiation from X-rays and cancer treatments

Diagnosing Cataracts

Your doctor will perform a comprehensive eye exam to check for cataracts and to assess your vision.The most common tonometry test uses a painless puff of air to flatten your cornea and test your eye pressure.

Other tests your doctor might perform include checking your sensitivity to glare and your perception of colors.

Treatment of Cataracts

They may suggest stronger eyeglasses, magnifying lenses, or sunglasses with an anti-glare coating.

Surgery

Surgery is recommended when cataracts prevent you from going about your daily activities, such as reading or driving.Surgery is to remove a cataract is generally very safe and has a high success rate.

Outlook of a Cataract

Cataracts can interfere with daily activities and lead to blindness when left untreated. Although some stop growing, they don’t get smaller on their own.

Prevention of Cataracts

To reduce your risk of developing cataracts:

• protect your eyes from UVB rays by wearing sunglasses outside
• have regular eye exams
• stop smoking
• eat fruits and vegetables that contain antioxidants
• maintain a healthy weight
• keep diabetes and other medical conditions in check