Cataracts Not an End to Quality of Life
Cataracts cloud your vision and are known to affect millions of people annually. This obstacle does not have to be the end to your quality of life - cataract surgery is now available and can clear your vision.
/Vision-Eye Care News Articles/ - March 01, 2008 - Though cataracts affect millions of people, especially the elderly, getting them is not a reason to despair. More than 1.4 million people have cataract surgery a year in the U.S. While aging is one of the reasons people get cataracts, other reasons include diseases, such as diabetes, poor general health, and even certain medications.
A cataract is a clouding of the eye's lens. The lens is behind the pupil and iris, and adjusts focus. This allows us to see things clearly up close and far away. As we age, the protein in the lens can begin to clump, creating a cloud that impairs vision. While the cataract might begin as a small cloud, which may only blur your vision a little, over time it can build up, making it difficult to see.
There are three types of cataracts:
• Nuclear cataract - This is the most commonly seen cataract. It forms in the center of the lens, the nucleus, and is due to the natural aging process.
• Cortical cataract - this type forms in the cortex of the lens, moving from the outside to the center. People with diabetes are most likely to get this type.
• Subscapular cataract - The subscapular cataract begins at the back of the lens. Diabetics, those with retinitis pigmentosa, farsightedness, or those taking steroids in high doses, may develop this type.
Symptoms
You may not notice right away that you have a cataract. They are painless and vision may be lost gradually. However, common symptoms of cataracts include:
• Blurred or hazy vision
• Poor night vision
• Frequent changes in eyeglass prescription
• Fading colors
• Glare
• Halos
• Double vision
If you are experiencing any of these symptoms, a thorough exam at the Gailey Eye Clinic can help to determine if you have a cataract, or the beginning of one.
Treatment
If your vision is only a little blurry, a change in your eyeglass prescription might help for a little while. However, if your vision is becoming seriously impaired and your quality of life is beginning to suffer, surgery may be needed. This surgery is a relatively painless and simple way to recover your vision, and is very successful.
During your surgery, the surgeon will remove the clouded lens and replace it with an intraocular lens (IOL). Surgery is over fairly quickly, but recovery can take some time. Follow your doctor's instructions so you can recover quickly with a minimal chance for complications.
Because people accept fading vision as a natural part of the aging process, many ignore the symptoms of cataracts. However, if you have a cataract in one or both eyes, you don't have to feel that this is an end to the way you've seen the world. You can retain your vision by visiting an experienced ophthalmologist to see what your options are.
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