Overview
Cataract is an eye disease in which the natural lens of the eye loses its transparency and becomes cloudy, leading to vision loss. It is the most common cause of blindness in the world. More than half of people over age 65 have some degree of cataract.
Cataract surgery is one of the most successful and frequently performed surgical procedures today; vision is fully restored in over 95% of cases.
Symptoms
Cataracts develop slowly and do not cause symptoms in the early stages. Over time:
- Blurry, foggy, or pale vision
- Difficulty seeing at night
- Light sensitivity (glare)
- Halos around lights
- Faded colors
- Frequent prescription changes
- Double vision in one eye
- Need for brighter light to read
- Discomfort from oncoming headlights (difficulty driving at night)
Types of Cataracts
- Age-related cataract (most common)
- Congenital cataract (in infants)
- Traumatic cataract (after eye injury)
- Secondary cataract (caused by another disease or medication)
Causes
- Aging (changes in lens proteins)
- Genetic predisposition
- Long exposure to UV light
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- Long-term cortisone use
- Eye injuries, surgeries
- Radiation therapy
- Congenital causes (rubella, genetic disorders)
Risk Factors
- Being over 40
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- Excessive alcohol use
- Excessive sun exposure
- Family history
- High blood pressure
- Obesity
- Steroid use
- Previous eye surgery/injury
- High myopia
Complications
- Vision loss, blindness (if untreated)
- Falls and accidents
- Significant decrease in quality of life
- Social isolation
- Postoperative complications (rare): infection, retinal detachment, glaucoma
When to See a Doctor
- Any change in your vision
- Difficulty driving at night
- Reading difficulty
- Frequent prescription changes
- Faded colors
- Eye examination every 2 years if over 40, annually if over 60
Diagnosis and Treatment
Diagnosis:
- Complete eye examination
- Visual acuity test
- Slit lamp examination
- Examination after pupil dilation
Treatment:
Early stage:
- New eyeglass prescription
- Strong reading light
- Use of sunglasses
- Anti-glare coated glasses
Surgery (the only definitive treatment):
- Phacoemulsification: Small incision; the lens is broken up and removed with ultrasonic waves
- Intraocular lens (IOL) implantation: Artificial lens replaces the natural lens
- Lens types: Monofocal, multifocal, toric (for astigmatism)
- The procedure takes 15-30 minutes; outpatient
- Vision usually improves noticeably within 1-2 days
Surgical indications:
- Vision interferes with daily life
- Makes driving difficult
- Prevents follow-up of other eye diseases
Prevention
- Regular eye examinations
- Wear UV-protective sunglasses
- Quit smoking
- Limit alcohol
- Control your diabetes
- Eat a healthy (vegetable- and fruit-rich) diet
- Eat foods rich in vitamin C, E, and lutein
- Do not use cortisone medications without medical advice
- Protect from eye injuries (protective glasses)