Cataracts: Know the Warning Signs

June is Cataract Awareness Month, and the American Academy of Ophthalmology wants to remind everyone, especially folks age 60 and older, that timely detection and treatment of cataracts is essential to protecting healthy vision.

Although anyone can develop a cataract, some people are more susceptible than others. Factors such as diabetes, family medical history, continued sunlight exposure, high blood pressure, eye injury, previous eye surgery, smoking, heavy drinking, obesity, extended use of corticosteroids and uveitis (eye inflammation) can increase the chance of developing cataracts. Ultimately, however, the most common cause of cataracts is simple aging. Time allows for the build-up of proteins and a loss of flexibility within the lens, diminishing its capacity to utilize light effectively. Over time, as the lens continues to thicken and its opaqueness becomes more severe, serious vision loss, even total blindness can occur. Nearly everyone who lives long enough will develop at least one cataract, and more often than not, both eyes will be affected.

Types of Cataracts
People with nuclear cataracts (which form in the center of the lens) may experience new or improved nearsightedness (close-up vision), but this improvement is temporary, and eventually, sometimes rapidly, vision will become blurred and distorted.

Cortical cataracts form on the outer edge of the cortex of the lens, appearing as cloudy or yellowish wedge-shaped growths.

Posterior subcapsular cataracts form near the back of the lens, diminishing light, colors and details, and causing glare and halos around light sources. These can progress faster than other types of cataracts.

Congenital cataracts, or cataracts people are born with, may and may not impact vision, but once they do, they can progress like other cataracts and should be addressed once vision becomes impaired.

Symptoms of Cataracts
Cataracts grow stealthily and vision changes can be so subtle that they often go unnoticed until problems become severe. Symptoms vary from person to person, depending on the size and location of the cataract, but the following symptoms can occur singly or in combination:
• Diminishing or poor night vision
• Halos around lights at night
• Clouded, muted or yellowed colors
• Distortion of fine details
• Sensitivity to light and glare
• Double vision in one eye
• Frequent need for new prescription lenses

Preventing Cataracts
While there is no concrete medical evidence that cataracts can be prevented, certain commonsense guidelines known to promote overall eye health may support cataract prevention and mitigation. It is wise to do the following:

Wear sunglasses – Sunglasses rated to block 100% of UV light can help protect your eyes from issues related to sun exposure, including photokeratitis (sunburn of the eyes), skin cancer of the eyelids, and cataracts.

Know your numbers – Having regular tests for blood pressure, diabetes, cholesterol and other health factors and taking steps to keep those numbers in line is smart for every aspect of your health, including your eye health.

Eat better – Add more vegetables and fruits to your diet. No vitamin supplement provides the same highly-absorbable and -useable vitamins, nutrients and fiber as does food. Adding more colorful vegetables and fruits to your daily routine will deliver quality antioxidants to help your eyes, body and brain enjoy optimal health.

Quit smoking – No matter how many times you have tried before, try again. Quitting smoking today provides rapid health benefits. New medications and other services can help more people quit than ever before, so talk to your clinician or eye doctor about what’s available to help you quit once and for all.

Get regular eye exams – Only a dilated eye exam can reveal the full array of stealthy sight-stealing conditions like cataracts, glaucoma and macular degeneration. Whatever your age, schedule a comprehensive eye exam with an eye doctor, who will review your history, make recommendations about how often to get routine screening, and create a personalized healthy-vision plan to keep your eyes and vision clear and comfortable.

When to See an Eye Doctor for Cataracts
Certainly, you should make an appointment with an eye doctor if you notice sudden or obvious changes in your vision, including worsening eyesight, floaters, flashes of light, eye pain, inflammation or sudden headache. Even without symptoms, it’s important to make an appointment for a comprehensive eye exam so a record of your healthy eyes can be established for future comparison.

As with all medical conditions, the earlier a problem is identified, the more easily it can be treated, halted or prevented entirely. So, planning for regular comprehensive eyes exams while your eyes are functioning normally is always the best path to a lifetime of clear, reliable vision.

An Eye Exam vs. a Vision Exam
While it’s normal for anyone who needs prescription lenses to see an increase in their prescription needs over time, cataracts can accelerate and worsen vision changes, and a simple vision exam can’t be relied upon to reveal cataracts. That’s why everyone, especially people ages 60 and older, as well as those with added risk factors like diabetes or previous eye injury, should schedule a comprehensive eye exam every one to two years, not only to spot cataracts, but also to catch early signs of glaucoma, macular degeneration, chronic dry eye and other issues that can damage eye health and eyesight. By identifying problems before they have a chance to cause vision loss, your eye doctor can advise you about how to protect – and possibly restore – crisp, healthy vision.

Lake Eye for Complete Cataract Care
When it comes to cataract diagnosis and safe, effective treatment, experience counts. As a local eye care pioneer in the latest and most advanced technologies and procedures, Lake Eye (a US Eye Company) is the region’s forerunner in cataract surgery and intraocular lens (IOL) replacement. With many years in practice and 40,000+ collective successful cataract surgeries behind them, our Board-certified eye surgeons offer unparalleled experience in the latest cataract treatments, including Femto refractive laser cataract surgery, combined cataract and glaucoma surgery, and precision mapping and placement of a complete range of IOLs, including toric, monofocal, multifocal, accommodating and extended range varieties from leading medical manufacturers.

If you’re due for a comprehensive eye exam or would like more information on our array of options for cataract treatment, we invite you to contact your local Lake Eye. We’re here to help you envision a wonderful life.

Lake Eye Associates
352-775-1533
www.lakeeye.com