What are Cataracts? Learn the Basics
What are cataracts? The simplest explanation is the lens of the eye is no longer clear. The lens is the clear part of the eye that helps to focus light into the eye which then signals the brain to “see” images. The lens must be clear to visualize a sharp image. With age, the lens becomes increasingly cloudy, causing blurry vision, impaired night vision and a general inability to see clearly. More poetically speaking, cataract is actually Latin for “waterfall.” However, if it is happening to your vision, you may not necessarily appreciate the symbolism.
Cataracts are an inevitability of aging, but doctors have identified a few factors such as smoking, sun exposure, diabetes, eye trauma, and some medications such as steroids that may contribute to their development. In its early stages, people can use reading glasses, magnification, and better lighting to try and improve their vision. However, as the cataract progresses, the only way to treat it is to remove the clouded lens. Every year, according to Prevent Blindness, more than two million cataract surgeries are performed in the U.S. A few additional facts:
- Cataracts aren’t painful, nor do they make your eyes red or teary. It simply impacts the clarity and contrast in your vision. Any changes in vision should be brought to the attention of both your primary and eye doctors.
- According to the National Eye Institute, by the year 2030 the number of cases in U.S. adults over the age of 40 will increase by 58 percent from 24.4 million in 2010 to a projected 38.7 million. Prevent Blindness America reports 95 percent are age-related, typically appearing sometime after age 40.
- Cataracts are more likely to occur among women recent reports show 61 percent of Americans with cataracts were women; 39 percent were men.
- More than half of all Americans have cataracts by the time they are 80 years old.
- Cataracts are the leading cause of poor vision and blindness around the globe.
- A cataract can occur in either or both eyes. But, they aren’t contagious – they don’t spread from one eye to the other.
- Cataract removal is the most common surgical procedure in the world; some 75 million have been performed in the last three decades.
- Cataract removal is also one of the most successful surgical procedures, with over 95 percent of patients having no post-op complications. Importantly, today’s cataract patients can select vision-correcting lenses to replace the clouded lens and reduce or even eliminate the need for glasses after surgery.
- Each June is Cataract Awareness Month and an excellent opportunity to learn more about what are cataracts.
