While cataracts can strike younger people, the problem usually develop in older adults. Cataracts are characterized by clouding of the eye’s lens, which normally is clear and serves to focus images onto the retina at the back of the eye. The lens is mostly made up of water and protein. The protein is arranged in a precise manner that keeps the lens clear and let light pass through it.

However, as we age, some of the protein may break down and clump together and start to turn cloudy in parts of the lens, resulting in a cataract. Over time, the clumps may grow larger and cloud more of the lens, making it harder to see by blocking some of the light which would normally pass through the lens.

Cataracts usually start forming in people when they are in their late forties to fifties but the condition won’t affect their vision until they are in their early sixties. A minority of cataracts cases can be linked to diabetes, using certain medications or as a result of trauma to the eye. Some scientists claim that cigarette smoke and prolonged exposure to sunlight can also cause cataracts.

Symptoms of Cataracts

Most cataracts at the beginning stages do not affect your vision. In fact, most people don’t realize they have cataracts unless it is detected during an in-depth eye exam. As the cataracts develop you may start to notice your vision becoming blurry. Double vision is not uncommon nor is the halo effect, a ring that you might see around bright lights. Reduced vibrancy in color and problems with glare are additional symptoms.

Diagnosing cataracts

Most cataracts are detected during an eye exam, some before the condition is at the stage where it affects ones vision, while others are discovered after vision is becoming a problem. For people with diseases that are susceptible to cataracts like diabetes, they are automatically given the vision testing to rule out the condition. The exam usually involves the doctors dilating your pupils as to be able to examine the lens within your eye. Sometimes, the cloudiness of the lens is easily visible on the eye and sometimes not. A vision test is also conducted to determine the extent in which the cataracts affected vision.

Prevention and treatment of cataracts

There is not much that can be done to prevent age related cataracts. The only preventive measure you can take is to have your eyes checked on a regular basis. This is really the only way to detect cataracts before they start to affect your vision. If you have a disease where cataracts are more common like diabetes, then be careful to control your blood sugar and make eye exams a biannual event.

Cataract surgery is the only surefire way to restoring vision and has a very good success rate. Surgery to treat cataracts is the most frequently performed surgery in the United States, with over 3 million Americans having the procedure done each year. Nine out of 10 people who have cataract surgery regain vision somewhere between 20/20 and 20/40. If you are ambivalent about cataract surgery, you will have to weight the benefits and risks of having the surgery and decide if your vision is bad enough to warrant the treatment. There are a few treatments to consider when deciding on surgery to correct your cataracts:

1.  Extracapsular cataract extraction – Basically, sound waves are used to break up the cloudy clumps in the eye lens, which are then suctioned out, leaving your own lens intact and free of the clumps of protein.

2.  Intracapsular cataract extraction – In this procedure, the natural lens of the eye is removed and a plastic one is put in its place or you can choose to wear special contact lenses or cataract glasses.

The type of treatment for cataracts you decide on will depend on your overall health, risk factors regarding your vision as well as what the doctor deems appropriate for your eye sight. Of course, great strides are being made every day and chances are that when you might need the surgery in the future, there will be additional treatment options available to you.

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