Cataract

Cataract

A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye. This article focuses on cataracts in adults. For information on  cataracts in children, Causes, incidence, and risk factors The lens of the eye is normally clear. It acts like the lens on a camera,  focusing light as it passes to the back of the eye. Until a person is around age 45, the shape of the lens is able to  change. This allows the lens to focus on an object, whether it is close  or far away. As we age, proteins in the lens begin to break down and the lens  becomes cloudy. What the eye sees may appear blurry. This condition  is known as a cataract. Factors that may speed up cataract formation are: Diabetes Eye inflammation Eye injury Family history of cataracts Long-term use of corticosteroids (taken by mouth) or certain other medications Radiation exposure Smoking Surgery for another eye problem Too much exposure to ultraviolet light (sunlight) In many cases, the cause of cataract is unknown. Symptoms Adult cataracts develop slowly and painlessly. Vision in the affected eye or eyes slowly gets worse. Mild clouding of the lens often occurs after age 60, but it may not cause any vision problems. By age 75, most people have cataracts that affect their vision. Visual problems may include the following changes: Being sensitive to glare Cloudy, fuzzy, foggy, or filmy vision Difficulty seeing at night or in dim light Double vision Loss of color intensity Problems seeing shapes against a background or the difference between shades of colors Seeing halos around lights Cataracts generally lead to decreased vision, even in daylight. Most people with cataracts have similar  changes in both eyes, although one eye may be worse than the other. Many people with this condition  have only mild vision changes. Other symptoms may include: Frequent changes in eyeglass prescription Cataract Prevention Though there is significant controversy about whether cataracts can be prevented, a number of studies suggest certain nutrients and nutritional supplements may reduce your risk of cataracts. One large, 10-year study of female health professionals found that higher dietary intakes of vitamin E and the carotenoids lutein and zeaxanthin from food and supplements were associated with significantly decreased risks of cataract. Good food sources of vitamin E include sunflower seeds, almonds and spinach. Good sources  of lutein and zeaxanthin include spinach, kale and other green, leafy vegetables. Other studies have shown antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin C and foods containing omega-3  fatty acids may reduce cataract risk. . Visit our Nutrition & Eyes section to read more about eye vitamins and how a healthful diet and good nutrition may help prevent cataracts. Another step you can take to reduce your risk of cataracts is to wear protective sunglasses that  block 100 percent of the sun's UV rays when you are outdoors. Cataract Treatment When symptoms begin to appear, you may be able to improve your vision for a while using new glasses, strong bifocals, magnification, appropriate lighting or other visual aids. Think about surgery when your cataracts have progressed enough to seriously impair your vision  and affect your daily life. Many people consider poor vision an inevitable fact of aging, but cataract surgery is a simple, relatively painless procedure to regain vision. Cataract surgery is very successful in restoring vision. In fact, it is the most frequently performed surgery in the United States, with more than 3 million Americans undergoing cataract surgery each year, according to PBA. Nine out of 10 people who have cataract surgery regain very good  vision, somewhere between 20/20 and 20/40. During surgery, the surgeon will remove your clouded lens and in most cases replace it with a clear, plastic intraocular lens (IOL). Reference: http://www.drmanoj.com/article.php?id=74 http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/cataracts.htm