Cataracts: Causes, Diagnosis, and Treatments

Cataracts are cloudy forms that accumulate on the clear lens of the eye. Most cataracts develop slowly and may not affect vision at the early stages. People who have cataracts struggle to see through clouded vision with time. 

Cataracts form when fibers and proteins inside the eye lens break down and cloud the lens when they clump together. Clouding grows denser as cataracts develop. As cataracts scatter, they block the light that passes through your eye lens. The blockage prevents distinct images from reaching your retina.

Cataracts do not develop in both eyes at the same rate. You can experience a difference in vision in both eyes because one eye has a more advanced cataract than the other.

Causes of Cataracts 

Most cataracts develop when there is an injury in the tissue that comprises the eye lens. 

Cataracts also form owing to aging. Vision becomes cloudy and blurry when protein and fibers start breaking down. Health-related problems caused by genetic disorders can increase the risk of cataracts forming. 

Risk Factors

Several factors that increase the risk of cataracts forming include:
 

• Aging.
   

• Inflammation of the eye.
   

• Habitual drinking of excessive alcohol.
   

• Prior eye surgery.
   

• High blood pressure.
   

• Diabetes.
   

• Too much exposure to the sun without eye protection.
   

• Obesity.
   

• Eye injury.
   

• Smoking.

Symptoms 

You may not know you have cataracts until they fully develop and block light from entering the eye lens. When this happens, you may develop symptoms such as:
 

• Blurry, filmy, or foggy vision.
   

• A change in how you perceive color.
   

• Problems with glare.
   

• Double vision in the cataract-affected eye.
   

• Contact lenses and eyeglasses do not work well.
   

• Difficulty driving at night.

Diagnosis

It is crucial to visit a doctor whenever you develop any changes in your vision. Your doctor will give you special eyedrops to dilate your pupils. Wide-open pupils make it easy to conduct an eye examination. Your doctor can perform different tests and a complete eye examination for a proper diagnosis.

Treatments 

Surgery can treat cataracts; however, you may not need surgery immediately if the doctor catches the problem early. Prescription glasses can help you get by. Stronger prescription glasses can only help you for a short while.

During surgery, your surgeon will numb your eye with local anesthesia. You will get sedated but remain awake the whole time. 

The surgery is a 15 to 20 minutes procedure that may not need admission to the hospital after it. Your doctor takes out the cloudy lens of your eye and replaces it with an artificial lens.

If both of your eyes have cataracts, your eye doctor will perform surgery on one eye then wait for it to heal before operating on the next one. Most people who undergo cataract surgery say they see better after it.

Recovery happens smoothly for most patients. You can go back to your routine after a week or two of the surgery. Just like any other surgery, there can be risks. Cataract surgery risks are rare, but you can experience infection or bleeding. You can also have a detached retina, where your retina separates from the tissues at the back of the eye. 

It is advisable to visit your doctor for a checkup once you experience any abnormalities after surgery.

For more on the causes and treatment of cataracts, visit Reed Optical in Claremont or Sunapee, NH. You can also call (603) 543-3125 to book an appointment today.