What is a cataract?
Your eye possesses a lens that projects images onto the back of your eye (retina) to allow you to see. As you age, so does the lens. When the lens becomes cloudy that is a cataract. Cataracts often develop gradually due to age, and people may not notice the decrease in vision initially. However, cataracts can also develop at birth, due to injury or due to medical conditions or medications. Risk factors include diabetes, steroid medications, smoking, ultraviolet light exposure, inflammation or the eye, prior eye surgery, injury to the eye and genetics.
What are symptoms of a cataract?
Cataracts cause a decrease in vision including:
How can cataracts be treated?
Currently there are no effective medical treatments for cataracts. Options to reduce progression would be avoiding the above listed risk factors as well as initiating UV protection such as with sunglasses.
If surgery is indicated for the cataracts, your eye care provider will discuss that with you. Cataract surgery is one of the most commonly performed procedures in medicine, and it is one of the most successful surgeries. Most often, the cataract is removed by phacoemulsification in which a small instrument is equipped to soften and remove the cataract from the eye and an acrylic lens (IOL) is then inserted in its place. There are many types of IOLs such as single vision, monofocal, near-vision enhancing and toric (astigmatism correcting). The choices are endless and new technology is being released yearly. Make sure to discuss with your eye doctor the best IOL choice for you!
Additionally, modern technology allows for the use of femtosecond laser in cataract surgery. This laser allows for astigmatism correction, and a more gentle and precise surgery. The laser helps to soften the cataracts with less energy and can help reduce the need for glasses after surgery by correcting astigmatism.