Top 7 Blog Posts for 2014 --cataracts

As we age, people notice their vision changing. There are multiple reasons that our vision can change and I always recommend seeing an eye doctor for proper diagnosis and treatment. 

What are cataracts?  As we age, our eyes age also.  The lens inside our eyes (compare it to a lens on your camera) becomes opaque (cloudy). Instead of the light going straight through the lens to the retina where our brain and retinas (one in each eye) give us sight, the light is distorted by the opaque areas of the lens.   This normal aging occurrence called Cataracts affects most people.

Symptoms of cataracts include hazy, blurry vision which may start as a small area of blurriness and worsens.  You may notice that lights (especially at night) glare and cause a halo of light around whatever you are looking at. You may notice colors aren’t as bright as they have been in the past.

What causes cataracts?  Cataracts are considered a normal part of aging.  However, researchers recognize these risk factors as contributing to cataract development:  UV lights, smoking, diabetes and high blood pressure, obesity, some drugs such as corticosteroids, statin medicines, and hormone replacement drugs, previous eye injury and surgery and a family history of cataracts. 

Can cataracts be prevented?  The experts aren’t sure but they suspect that protecting your eyes from UV light and eating a healthy diet which includes vitamin E, vitamin C, and omega-3 fatty acids help prevent.

Treatment for cataracts ultimately involves surgery. You may be able to delay surgery for a while with a new pair of glasses.  Eventually surgery is the answer.  However, over the past 40 years the improvements in cataract surgery has been amazing to watch.  According to allaboutvision.com, cataract surgery is the surgery most often performed in the US.  With the improvements in surgery, a replacement plastic lens called an IOL (intraocular lens) will be implanted.  Most people get excellent results and their after surgery vision is within the 20/20 to 20/40 range. 

Information from the American Academy of Opthalmology about cataracts can be found at
http://www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/diseases/cataracts/index.cfm

For more Tips for Eye Health in People 40-60

http://www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/living/midlife-adults-eye-health-tips.cfm

Tips for Eye Health in People over 60

http://www.geteyesmart.org/eyesmart/living/seniors-eye-health-tips.cfm