About Cataracts
What is a Cataract?
Cataracts are a normal part of the aging process. Most Americans over the age of 65 have some level of visual dysfunction related to cataracts, though presentation is highly variable. About half of Americans aged 65 to 75 have cataracts and about 70 percent of those 75 and over can expect to have this condition.
A cataract is a cloudy opacity in the lens of the eye. A normal lens is clear and lets light pass to the back of the eye or retina. A cataract blocks some of the light and as it develops makes it harder for a person to see.
Most people with cataracts have a cataract in both eyes. However, one eye may be worse since each cataract can develop at a different rate.
Some people with cataracts don't even know it. Their cataract may be small, or the changes in their vision may not bother them very much. Other people who have cataracts cannot see well enough to do the things they need or want to do.
Many people with visually significant cataracts do not know they have them. Given their slow development and spontaneous onset in both eyes, visual abnormalities may be initially hard to notice. Nonetheless, progressive visual decline is inevitable, and it is reversible with cataract surgery.
Some Symptoms of Cataracts
- Cloudy, blurry, or foggy vision
- Changes in the way you see colors
- Difficulty driving at night
- Excessive glare and/or haloes
- Frequent changes in your eyeglass prescription
- Double vision
How is a Cataract Diagnosed?
A simple eye exam is all that is needed to find a cataract. The doctor uses a bright light to see whether your lenses are clear and to check for other problems in the back of your eyes.
Other eye tests may be necessary to demonstrate your visual limitation with cataracts. Cataract surgery can be arranged at a time which best suits your schedule, and in most cases restoration of your vision can be expected within a day or two.
Your ophthalmologist will tell you whether you are one of a small number of people who must have surgery.
