Cataracts

The term cataract refers to the clouding of the eye’s lens, the part of the eye that focuses light entering the eye onto the retina. Cataracts block the passage of light to the retina, which, in turn, inhibits the retinal signals that convey to the brain what the eye is seeing. As a result, cataracts can cause serious vision problems.

Causes

There are a number of factors that can cause or contribute to cataract formation. Cataracts are often a product of the aging process, since the eyes change slightly over time. Other factors, including overexposure to sunlight, eye injury or disease, certain medications, diabetes, and other health problems, can cause cataracts. Alternatively, some children are born with cataracts.

Symptoms

If you have a cataract, you may experience one or more of the following symptoms:

Cloudy or foggy vision
Poor night vision
Glare or haloes around lights
Double vision
Temporary improvement of near vision (“second sight” that can result from cataract formation)

Alternatively, some patients do not experience vision loss due to cataracts.

Treatment Options

Cataract treatment depends on a number of factors, including the severity of the cataract and the patient’s symptoms, the patient’s ocular health, and the patient’s medical history. Treatment options include:

Lifestyle Changes

Lifestyle habits – for example, keeping one’s eyeglass or contact lens prescription up-to-date, maintaining well-lit home and work spaces, avoiding smoking, and avoiding overexposure to sunlight.

Vision Aids

Vision aids, including prescription eyeglasses and contact lenses, can improve vision and delay or prevent the need for cataract surgery. Vision aids can be utilized to not only correct cataracts, but other complex vision impairments as well. These contact lenses are removable, but specially crafted to provide two powers of vision enhancement; these curvatures correct for astigmatism and either nearsightedness or farsightedness.

Cataract Surgery

Cataract surgery – a procedure that involves removing the eye’s natural lens and replacing it with a intraocular lens (IOL) – can be an excellent option for treating cataracts.