Cataracts

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in the world, but are fortunately correctable. Cataract surgery is the most common surgery for Americans over the age of 65. 95% of people 85 years old have cataracts. Almost 50% of people 65 have a developing cataract.

Causes:

• AGING – Once our vision begins to require glasses for reading the cataract process has begun.  In some cases this process can be a few short months, while in other cases it may take up to 20 years for a full cataract to form.  Cataracts are part of the normal aging process, which causes the normally clear lens of the eye to become cloudy.
• FROM BIRTH – This can be genetic or from infections while in the womb
• TRAUMATIC – severe injuries to the eye can cause a cataract to form
• OXIDATION STRESSES – UV radiation,” therapeutic” radiation, medication, and toxic chemicals Lifestyle again is preventive.

Cataracts are the leading cause of visual loss in adults age 55 and older. A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens inside your eye. This lens is a clear, disc-shaped structure located behind the iris (the colored portion of the eye). The human lens acts much like the lens in a camera, focusing the images on the retina of the eye. The retina then transfers the visual image to the brain, which permits vision.

When a cataract develops, the lens becomes opaque or cloudy and vision may become impaired. Cataracts are most often a result of aging although anyone can get them. When the lens becomes cloudy and causes vision loss great enough to interfere with normal daily activities, surgical removal is required to improve vision.

Symptoms
Common symptoms of a cataract include:

• a painless blurring of vision;
• light sensitivity
• poor night vision
• double vision in one eye
• needing a brighter light to read
• colors looking faded or yellow

The cloudiness and pattern of a cataract can vary. If the cloudiness is to the side of your field of vision, you may not be aware that you have a cataract.

There are many misconceptions about cataracts. A cataract is not a film over the eye and does not spread from one eye to the other. How quickly a cataract progresses varies among individuals and may even differ between the two eyes. Most age-related cataracts progress gradually over a period of years.

Treatment
Surgery is the only way to cure a cataract. Cataract surgery can be performed when your vision needs require it. During cataract surgery your cloudy lens is removed from the eye and replaced with a permanent intraocular lens. New technology and surgical advancements have made cataract surgery a painless, outpatient procedure. Exciting new lens offerings provide options to patients as well, allowing cataract patients to see well at all distances without the help of glasses, bifocals or reading glasses.

Cataract removal by David Vroman, MD or Millin Budev, MD at Carolina Cataract & Laser Center is handled through a is handled through an outpatient surgical procedure outpatient surgical procedure at a local surgery facility. Your surgeon will work with you to evaluate your cataract, discuss recommended treatment options and to schedule surgery if needed. If you or a loved one has questions or would like to be evaluated for cataracts please call our office at 843.797.3676.