4 Fascinating Facts About Cataracts

Cataracts are a common condition that affects your vision, causing cloudiness of the lens, blurriness, double vision, and even sensitivity to light. Unfortunately, because the cloudiness of the lens is so severe, cataracts can also affect your appearance and self-esteem.

Even though it is a common disorder, most people are not very familiar with what causes cataracts and what treatments are available. Using this guide and your optometrist's help, learn a few fascinating facts about cataracts.

In many instances, your age does not affect the way you feel or look. However, in regards to the development of cataracts, age is not just a number.

Age is the main cause of cataracts since the proteins in your lens start to break down at or over the age of 40. The breakdown of the proteins in the lens causes the cloudiness cataracts have.

Additional issues may arise that increase your risk of developing cataracts. If you have diabetes, take corticosteroid medications, or have a family history of cataracts, you will be at risk of developing the disorder.

Finally, certain eye injuries can lead to cataract development. Actual eye trauma, eye surgery, or excessive sun exposure increase your risk of cataracts.

Cataracts affect your vision in many ways.

As the proteins in the lens break down, causing cloudiness in your lens, light will not reach them. This leads to blurry vision. Over time, the cloudiness spreads through the eye, making the blurriness more severe and prominent.

Cataracts also change your clear lens to a yellow or brownish color. Others may notice this discoloration, and the discoloration also tints your vision quality. The tinting progresses over time, decreasing your ability to read, watch television, drive, and complete simple activities.

In severe cases, the tinting can affect your ability to see or distinguish between certain colors.

Without efficient diagnosis and effective treatment, cataracts can lead to complete blindness. In fact, cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in the world.

Another fascinating fact about cataracts is that multiple types exist. The type is based on where and how they develop. Here are the most common types of cataracts:

Age typically causes the above types of cataracts, but other types may form due to genetics, disease, or trauma.

For example, congenital cataracts are present at birth. Secondary cataracts form if you have diabetes or take specific medications. You also have traumatic cataracts, which develop after a direct injury to the eye.

Many people ignore a diagnosis of cataracts. This decision can interfere with your vision, affecting your overall quality of life. Cataracts worsen over time, so avoiding treatment will most likely cause you to go blind.

Surgical treatment is an effective option to consider. An estimated 3 million Americans undergo cataract surgery each year, and 98 percent of these surgeries are successful.

The surgery involves breaking down the cloudiness of the lens using an ultrasound tool. Once the surgeon has removed the damaged lens, he or she then puts an artificial lens into place.

If surgery does not seem like an option, talk to your optometrist about correcting your vision with prescription eyeglasses. This can correct your vision issues while protecting your eye from further cataract damage.

A cataract may not be life-threatening, but it can threaten your vision and quality of life. For more information on preventing and treating cataracts and other disorders of the eye, contact Hummel Eye Associates today.

For example, congenital cataracts are present at birth. Secondary cataracts form if you have diabetes or are taking specific medications. There are also traumatic cataracts, which develop after a direct injury to the eye.

There are many people who ignore a diagnosis of cataracts. This decision can interfere with your vision, affecting your overall quality of life. Cataracts worsen over time, so avoiding treatment will most likely cause you to go blind.

Surgical treatment is an effective option to consider. An estimated 3 million Americans undergo cataract surgery each year and 98 percent of these surgeries are successful.

The surgery involves breaking down the cloudiness of the lens using an ultrasound tool. Once the damaged lens is removed, an artificial lens is put into place.

If surgery does not seem like an option, talk to your optometrist about correcting your vision with prescription eyeglasses. This can correct your vision issues while protecting your eye from further damage related to cataracts.

A cataract may not be life-threatening, but it can threaten your vision and quality of life. For more information on preventing and treating cataracts and other disorders of the eye, contact Hummel Eye Associates today.