Cataracts aren't always obvious, and if they are not blatantly obstructing your vision, you may not even know you have them. The only sure way to know is to have a qualified, experienced eye doctor do an eye examination.
What are Cataracts?
Cataracts are areas of cloudiness forming in the lens of the eye due to proteins that congeal. Cataracts are not contagious and may appear in one eye and not the other. They tend to worsen over time but may be located out of the center of your vision where you may be less aware of them.
In the early stages they may be difficult to see, and cause only minor disturbance to your vision. As they become denser, or wider you will notice increasingly blurry vision. This may seem, at first, to be a deteriorating ability to focus, that could be corrected by a prescription for stronger glasses.
While cataracts are more prevalent in older people, they can occur in younger people as well. In particular, injury to the eye(s) predisposes them to cataracts, which may cause them to appear at a much younger age than one would expect. Over half of all people, by age 80 years have cataracts.
Risk Factors for Cataracts
While doctors understand what increases the risk for cataracts, they still don't understand what actually causes them. Risks include:
- Age, progressively increases with age
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- Long-term use of alcohol
- Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet sunlight
- Exposure to lead
Prevention and Treatment
While you may not be able to prevent all cataracts, you can make some changes that might delay their development. Based on the risk factors, keeping diabetes under control, quitting smoking, drinking in moderation if at all, wearing UV protected sunglasses and hats with brims to block UV sunlight, and avoiding lead can help delay or diminish the development of cataracts. Treatment is indicated when the cataracts interfere with your ability to carry out normal tasks, and involves surgically replacing the lens with an intraocular lens (IOL.)
If you suspect that you have cataracts, it's time for an eye examination. Please contact Carter Eye Center in Dallas for an appointment with one of our highly qualified and experienced eye doctors.
