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Disease
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Cataracts Disease
Cataracts cause more vision problems globally than any other eye condition or disease, and the number of cataracts is increasing with the aging population.
In the United States in 2010, there were 20.48 million cases, rising to 24.41 million in 2015. By 2050, nearly 50 million Americans are expected to have cataracts.
A cataract causes a part of the lens to becomes opaque, or cloudy. Light does not pass through easily, and vision becomes blurry, like looking through a fogged-up window. The cloudier the lens, the worse the vision will be.
Congenital cataracts may be present at birth or appear shortly after, or at some time during infancy or childhood.Age-related cataracts appear later in life and are the most common type. This article will focus on age-related cataracts.Cataract surgery is a routine operation nowadays and the most common kind of eye surgery.
Symptoms?
Cataracts normally take years to develop, and they tend to appear in older age. The lens gradually becomes cloudy. Cataracts can make it hard to read or drive a car, especially during the night. Seeing people’s facial expressions can become difficult. They develop slowly, so most people do not know they have them at first, but as the clouding progresses, the vision gradually gets worse. Long-distance vision is more severely affected at the beginning.
Cataracts often affect both eyes, but rarely equally.
People with cataracts may have the following symptoms:
- Blurry, cloudy, or misty vision
- Vision may be affected by small spots or dots
- The patient sees small patches that blur parts of the field of vision
- Vision worsens when lights are dim
- Vision is sometimes worse when there is very bright light, or glare
- Some people with cataracts also comment that colors appear less clear and faded
- Reading becomes difficult and eventually impossible
- Glasses need to be changed more frequently
- Eventually wearing glasses becomes less effective
- Rarely, the person may see a halo around bright objects, such as car headlights or street lights, or have double vision in one eye
Causes
Anyone can develop a cataract, because the greatest risk factor is age. In the U.S., over 40 percent of people aged 75 years or above have some degree of lens clouding. Over half of all Americans aged 80 or greater have their vision significantly impaired by cataracts. Factors that may increase the chance of developing cataracts include:
- Age
- Family history
- Diabetes
- Long-term exposure to bright sunlight
- Previous eye inflammation
- Previous eye injury
Airline pilots are more likely to develop nuclear cataracts, because of exposure to ionizing radiation.
Causes
Anyone can develop a cataract, because the greatest risk factor is age. In the U.S., over 40 percent of people aged 75 years or above have some degree of lens clouding. Over half of all Americans aged 80 or greater have their vision significantly impaired by cataracts. Factors that may increase the chance of developing cataracts include:
- Age
- Family history
- Diabetes
- Long-term exposure to bright sunlight
- Previous eye inflammation
- Previous eye injury
Airline pilots are more likely to develop nuclear cataracts, because of exposure to ionizing radiation.
Prevention
To minimize the complications of cataracts, people should have regular eye exams, especially as they get older. The following tips can reduce the risk of developing cataracts. Some have been proven to work, while others are not confirmed. Giving up smoking: Smoking raises the risk of a number of eye conditions, and studies have linked it to a 3-fold increase in cataracts. There are also indications that smokers may experience cataract symptoms earlier. Nutrition: Healthy food reduces the risk of disease, including eye problems. A healthy diet has plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, unrefined carbohydrates, good quality fats, such as avocado, olive oil, and omega oils, and either plant-sourced proteins or lean, animal-sourced proteins. Lutein and zeaxanthin have been described as “promising” in preventing cataracts. Obesity and diabetes: Obesity significantly raises the risk of developing type 2 diabetes, a cataract risk factor. Maintaining a healthy weight and keeping diabetes under control will help reduce the risk.
What is an ophthalmologist?
An ophthalmologist is a medical doctor who specializes in diagnosing and treating eye-related conditions.
To practice in the United States, ophthalmologists must complete:
- 4 years of college and a medical degree
- a 1 year postgraduate clinical year
- at least 36 months of residency training that focuses on ophthalmology
- certification with the American Board of Ophthalmology, which involves written and oral exams
Some ophthalmologists undergo a year or two of fellowship training specializing in one of the many subspecialties of ophthalmology, such as:
- glaucoma
- the cornea
- the retina
- uveitis
- refractive surgery
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