What Are Cataracts? Understanding the Symptoms and Treatment

As we age, it’s natural for our bodies to go through changes, and our eyes are no exception. One of the most common age-related eye conditions is the development of cataracts. A cataract is a clouding of the eye’s natural lens, the clear part of the eye that helps to focus light. For a person with a cataract, it can be like looking at the world through a foggy or frosted window. While cataracts are a leading cause of vision loss in older adults, the good news is that they are highly treatable with a safe and routine surgical procedure. Understanding the symptoms and treatment options is the first step in restoring clear, bright vision.

How Do Cataracts Form?

The lens of your eye is located behind the iris and the pupil. It works much like the lens of a camera, focusing light onto the retina at the back of the eye to produce a clear, sharp image. The lens is mostly made of water and protein. As we age, the proteins in the lens can begin to break down and clump together, creating a small cloudy area. This is a cataract. Over time, the cataract can grow larger and denser, making it increasingly difficult to see. Age is the most common cause, but other risk factors can include diabetes, prolonged sun exposure, smoking, and eye injuries.

Common Symptoms of Cataracts

Cataracts typically develop very slowly and painlessly, so the initial vision changes may be subtle. As the cataract progresses, you may begin to notice:

• Cloudy or Blurry Vision: This is the most common symptom. Your vision may seem hazy, filmy, or foggy.
• Faded or Yellowed Colors: Colors may appear less vibrant than they used to. Whites may look dull or yellowish.
• Increased Glare and Halos: You may become particularly sensitive to light. The headlights of oncoming cars at night may seem excessively bright or have halos around them. You may also notice glare from sunlight or indoor lamps.
• Difficulty Seeing at Night: Your night vision may decrease significantly, making it difficult to drive after dark.
• Frequent Changes in Your Glasses Prescription: You may find that your eyeglass prescription needs to be updated more frequently than usual.
• Double Vision: A cataract can sometimes cause you to see a double image out of one eye.

The National Eye Institute (NEI), a part of the National Institutes of Health, provides comprehensive information on these symptoms and the progression of the disease.

Diagnosis and Treatment

An optometrist or ophthalmologist can diagnose a cataract during a routine, comprehensive eye exam. In the early stages, your vision may be improved with a stronger glasses prescription and the use of brighter lighting for reading. However, as the cataract progresses and begins to significantly interfere with your daily activities, the only effective treatment is surgery.

Cataract surgery is one of the most common and successful surgical procedures performed in the world. The surgeon makes a tiny incision in the eye, removes the cloudy natural lens, and replaces it with a clear, artificial intraocular lens (IOL). This outpatient procedure is very quick, and most patients experience a dramatic improvement in their vision.

Your Monrovia Experts in Cataracts Co-Management

If you are experiencing any of the symptoms of cataracts, a comprehensive eye exam is the first step toward a diagnosis. Your optometrist can monitor the progression of your cataracts and let you know when it’s time to consider surgery. For residents of Monrovia, CA, the experienced team at Plaza Vision Optometry provides diagnosis and co-management for patients with cataracts. Contact us today to schedule an eye exam.