By Edward Hu, MD, PhD, Illinois Eye Center
Cataracts are the leading cause of REVERSIBLE blindness in the world. In the U.S. alone, over three million cataract surgeries are performed each year. A cataract is the clouding of the natural crystalline lens, which focuses light on the back of the eye for sharp vision. This is a normal aging process and according to the National Eye Institute, over 50 percent of individuals over age 80 have cataracts or have had cataract surgery. The formation of cataracts can occur faster in individuals with systemic diseases such as diabetes, or who have been on long-term corticosteroid treatment. Younger individuals can develop cataracts from trauma and inflammation of the eye.
It is not unusual for cataracts to start developing in the early 50’s. However, they typically do not affect your vision and are only noticed by your eye care professional. If you are over the age of 60, you should have a comprehensive dilated eye exam to assess whether or not you have cataracts and your eye care specialist can also look for signs of other age-related eye diseases such as age-related macular degeneration and glaucoma.
The early symptoms of cataracts can be very mild such as a gradual change in your glasses prescription. Bothersome symptoms of more advanced cataract development include glare and difficulty driving at night. Other patients describe their vision to be foggy or like looking through a hazy window. Cataracts can also decrease the brightness and vividness of colors. Very advanced cataracts can be a blinding condition.
The early treatment for cataracts may be a simple change in your lense prescription. As a cataract progresses, changing glasses or contacts will no longer compensate for the blur. When the cataract begins to interfere with your vision, you and your eye care professional should decide together whether to have cataract surgery.
Cataract removal is one of the safest and most effective surgical procedures. In fact, more than three million cataract surgeries are performed each year in the United States. Modern day cataract surgery is an outpatient surgery and typically takes less than 10 minutes, using advanced ultrasound technology to break up and vacuum out the cloudy cataract lens and an artificial intraocular lens implant (IOL) is put in its place. You will have to use medicated eye drops for several weeks afterward. Patients typically notice a difference in their vision in the first few days following the surgery.
Traditionally, artificial lenses required the need for reading glasses after the surgery. However, advances in artificial lens technology now allow some patients, previously unable, to achieve excellent vision without glasses for distance. And, some types of artificial lenses can even greatly reduce the dependence on reading glasses as well. For those with astigmatism, there are advanced technology artificial lenses that may be implanted at the time of cataract surgery that can eliminate, or greatly reduce, the need for glasses for distance, after surgery. Ask your eye surgeon about these artificial lens options and whether you are a candidate for the advanced technology lenses.
Edward Hu, MD, PhD, is a board-certified comprehensive ophthalmologist and cataract surgeon able to provide the full spectrum of eye care to patients. His advanced training and expertise is in small incision cataract surgery. For more information, please visit IllinoisEyeCenter.com or schedule your appointment at 309-243-2400 or toll free at 800-872-4651.
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