CATARACTS

What is a Cataract? A cataract is a clouding of the eye's lens that can cause vision problems. The most common type is related to aging. More than half of all Americans age 80 years old have a cataract or have had cataract surgery. A cataract can occur in either or both eyes, but cannot spread from one eye to the other.

Who is at risk for cataract?

The risk of cataract increases as you get older. Other risk factors for cataract include:

• Certain diseases (for example, diabetes).
• Personal behavior (smoking, alcohol use).
• The environment (prolonged exposure to ultraviolet sunlight).

What are the Symptoms of Cataracts?

The most common symptoms of a cataract are:

• Cloudy or blurry vision.
• Problems with light. These can include headlights that seem too bright at night; glare from lamps or very bright sunlight; or a halo around lights.
• Colors that seem faded.
• Poor night vision.
• Double or multiple vision (this symptom often goes away as the cataract grows).
• Frequent changes in your eyeglasses or contact lenses.

How are Cataracts Treated?

For an early cataract, vision may improve by using different eyeglasses, magnifying lenses, or stronger lighting. If these measures don't help, surgery is the only effective treatment. This treatment involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with a substitute lens.

A cataract needs to be removed only when vision loss interferes with your everyday activities, such as driving, reading, or watching TV. You and your eye care professional can make that decision together. In most cases, waiting until you are ready to have cataract surgery will not harm your eye. If you decide on surgery, your eye care professional may refer you to a specialist to remove the cataract. If you have cataracts in both eyes, the doctor will not remove them both at the same time. You will need to have each done separately.

Sometimes, a cataract should be removed even if it doesn't cause problems with your vision. For example, a cataract should be removed if it prevents examination or treatment of another eye problem, such as age-related macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy.

Is Cataract Surgery Effective?

Cataract removal is one of the most common operations performed in the US today. It is also one of the safest and most effective. In about 90 percent of cases, people who have cataract surgery have better vision afterward.

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