We've all heard the term
"cataract," but
what is it, exactly? In honor of
Cataract Awareness
Month, we're going to try to provide answers to the most common
questions and concerns regarding this common condition, especially in seniors.
Cataracts affect our
eyesight much the same way as a dirty windshield: some types of cataracts
cloud the whole lens equally, and other types only obscure very specific areas.
In describing cataracts to patients, I compare them to a dirty windshield in
a car. The windshield may be dirty and obscured over the entire surface, or
there may be various areas that are perfectly clear and others that are dirty.
There may even be “stars” in the glass due to rock chips. The location of
windshield dirt governs how much it affects a driver’s vision. If a large area
of dirt is only over the passenger side of the windshield, the dirt is not
likely to hinder the driver much. However, if the entire windshield is clean
with the exception of a small area right in front of the driver’s line of
sight, the small area of dirt may significantly impede the driver’s ability to
see well.
Nuclear, cortical, and posterior sub-capsular cataracts are the three most
common types of cataracts. Though the manner in which each type of cataract
affects vision is slightly different, their treatment is the same. Entire
textbooks have been written to exhaustively cover the various types of
cataracts that exist, but the fundamental problem of any cataract is that it
interferes with the clear transmission of light to the retina.
Symptoms of Cataracts
The symptoms vary according to the type of cataract but commonly include
complaints of cloudiness to the vision as well as an overall reduction of the
best corrected vision. Additionally, increased glare is among the top
complaints caused by cataracts. Glare is typically most bothersome at night,
especially
while
driving. The cataract opacities in the lens act to scatter light entering
the eyes, inducing glare. The glare and scattered light may be so pronounced
that they cause double vision.
Cataracts often cause colors to lose their
vibrancy, and people complain that colors become “washed out.” The color vision
changes are gradual, so they may not be perceived until the cataract is
removed, upon which color vision quickly restores to normal.
Risk Factors for Cataracts
Just as dermatologists remind us to protect our skin from the sun’s
ultraviolet (UV) light by using sunscreen, protecting the eyes from UV light is
just as important.
Ultraviolet light is believed to be the
primary cause of cataracts for most people. UV light exposure
is received when we are in sunlight, so we need to limit our UV exposure.
Other risk factors for cataracts include diabetes, smoking,
trauma to the eye, electrocution, and prolonged steroid use. Steroids
such as prednisone are commonly prescribed to treat a host of conditions,
including arthritis, asthma, and other autoimmune diseases. Using steroids for
a few days or weeks poses little increased risk, but long-term usage at higher
doses is strongly linked to cataract formation. Cataracts may also form as a
result of ocular trauma. Traumatic cataracts may not develop until long after
the initial injury; people with a history of “black eyes,” sports injuries, or
car accident victims with head trauma sometimes develop cataracts months or
years later.
Cataract Treatments
Early stages of cataracts are managed without surgery. Updating eyeglass
lenses to keep pace with the changes induced by cataracts is critical. It is
not unusual to need
eyeglass
prescription updates more frequently in the early stages of cataract
development. Non-glare lens treatments for the eyeglass lenses help reduce (but
do not eliminate) glare caused by the cataracts. One of the best ways of
optimizing vision with cataracts is to use prescription polarized sunglasses
while outside and when driving.
Polarizedlenses filter out light rays that contribute to glare, and they effectively
counteract glare caused by cataracts by reducing the light scatter.
Read the original article published on
CvilleEyeCare.com
written by
Dr.
Joe DiGirolamo, OD
As June is cataract awareness month 20/20 Eyeglass superstoreoffers
30% off on air weight lenses and Frames. Independent doctor of
optometry and highly trained staff are always available to help you. For
more Information visit us at 20/20 Eyeglass Superstore or call us 386-774-5000.
