Facts You Should Know About Cataracts

Cataracts are one of the leading causes of blindness among senior citizens. The condition is also becoming more widespread, with over 50% of people in the U.S. expected to develop cataracts by the age of 80. Fortunately, cataracts are highly treatable.

Unfortunately, there are widespread misconceptions about cataracts. That’s why nonprofit Prevent Blindness America declared June as Cataract Awareness Month. To help spread awareness about the condition, Downtown Eyes, your local optician, lists important facts patients should know about cataracts.

Age Is the Primary Cause of Cataracts, But It’s Not the Only One

There are different types of cataracts: congenital, traumatic and secondary. The most common type is age-related, which comprises about 95% of cases. As people age, old cells get replaced with new ones. However, usually around the age of 40, some of the protein cells in your eyes’ lenses might start to break down and clump together, blocking parts of the lenses. If there are cataracts preventing light from passing through the retina, your vision may become cloudy.

Risk Factors

Patients who suffer from cataracts are usually aged 60 and above, although according to the National Eye Institute, it’s not impossible for those in their 40s and 50s to develop age-related cataracts. In general, the older you are, the greater your risk of developing cataracts. Keep in mind that age isn’t the only risk factor.

Other risk factors include:

• Nutritional deficiency (specifically, low levels of antioxidants such as vitamin C, vitamin E and carotenoids)

• Excessive alcohol consumption

• Hereditary influences (a family history of cataracts)

• Diabetes mellitus (Patients suffering from diabetes are at higher risk of developing cataracts)

• Prolonged unprotected exposure to ultraviolet rays

• Eye inflammation

• Eye injuries

• Long-term steroid use

• Smoking

Some patients mistakenly think activities such as reading, sewing or using the computer for a long time can cause cataracts. However, the condition isn’t caused by doing certain activities. This misconception may have arisen because these activities require clear vision. If you notice any changes in your vision, it’s important that you see an optician as soon as possible.

The Symptoms of Cataracts Appear Gradually

Cataracts form very slowly and usually don’t affect vision in the early stages, making early diagnosis tricky. As the condition progresses, patients may start to experience these symptoms:

• Blurry vision or double vision (this symptom may disappear as cataracts grow larger)

• A feeling that there’s a film covering your eyes

• Sensitivity to bright lights or seeing halos around lights

• Difficulty seeing at night

• Not noticing any improvements in your vision even after changing prescription eyeglasses

If you experience any of these symptoms, see your optician as soon as possible. The sooner cataracts are treated, the better.

Preventing Cataracts

How can you lower your risk of developing cataracts?

• Wear sunglasses and a wide-brimmed hat to limit your exposure to the sun’s UV rays – Don’t buy drugstore sunglasses, which offer little protection from the sun. Choose sunglasses that are specifically designed for UV eye protection and are rated UV400 or higher. Sunglasses with this rating can block up to 99.9% of UV rays. It’s also a good idea to choose sunglasses with polarized lenses that can reduce glare.

• Quit smoking and limit alcohol consumption – Smokers are at higher risk of developing cataracts. If you’re having trouble quitting, there are plenty of groups and online communities that offer support. The same goes for alcohol consumption: try to avoid drinking or at least limit your alcohol consumption.

• Eat a balanced diet – Include more fruits and dark, leafy greens in your diet. Vegetables such as spinach, kale and collard greens contain plenty of antioxidants that can help keep your eyes healthy. If you take supplements, researchers have noted lutein and zeaxanthin as well as vitamin C, vitamin E and zinc can potentially reduce your risk for developing certain eye diseases, including cataracts.

• Undergo a routine eye examination – The best way to prevent cataracts from affecting your vision is to undergo a routine eye examination. A comprehensive eye exam can detect subtle irregularities in your vision.

What to Expect During Eye Exams

You can expect the following during your eye exam:

• Discussion about your medical history and current health – Your eye doctor will ask about your medical history and whether any vision difficulties are currently affecting your daily activities.

• Measuring visual acuity – A visual activity test involves reading the details of a letter or a symbol from a certain distance. This test can help determine to what extent cataracts may be affecting your vision

• A refraction test – This test will determine whether any changes need to be made to your eyeglass prescription.

• Evaluating your eyes’ lenses – Your eye doctor will examine the lenses of your eyes under high magnification and illumination to see if there are any cataracts and, if so, how advanced they are.

• Evaluating your retina through a dilated pupil – Your eye doctor will give you some eye drops to dilate or widen your pupils. By dilating the pupils, an eye doctor can fully examine your optic nerve and retina. In general, those aged 60 and older should undergo a dilated eye exam at least once every two years.

• Testing eye muscle coordination – Your eye doctor will move a flashlight in a set pattern to see if you can use both eyes.

• Measuring the pressure of your eye – Eye pressure indicates the fluid pressure in your eyes. Abnormal eye pressure can damage your vision and may be a symptom of glaucoma, another leading cause of blindness. To measure eye pressure, your eye doctor will use a tonometer to release a puff of air onto your eye.

• Conducting supplemental tests such as testing your color vision or glare sensitivity – Seeing faded colors and sensitivity to glare are possible symptoms of cataracts. To test your ability to differentiate colors, your eye doctor will ask you to describe illustrations composed of different colored dots.

Regardless of your risk for developing cataracts, it’s important to see your eye doctor for an eye examination regularly. As you age, your risk of developing certain eye conditions increases.

The Only Proven Way of Removing Cataracts Is Through Surgery

If cataracts begin to affect your vision, you may need to undergo surgery. During cataract surgery, the affected lens of the eye is replaced with an artificial lens.

Some patients may be hesitant about undergoing an invasive procedure. Fortunately, cataract surgery is minimally invasive and is one of the most common procedures in the country, with an estimated 3.6 million procedures being conducted every year. Cataract surgeries have a 90-95% success rate in the US, and about 90 percent of cataract surgery patients report better vision after undergoing surgery. However, as with any surgery, there are some risks involved. Before making a decision to undergo the procedure, it’s important that you discuss the benefits and risks of cataract surgery with your eye doctor.

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