Astigmatism
Blepharitis
Cataracts
Conjunctivitis (Pink Eye)
Diabetic Retinopathy
Dry Eye Syndrome
Glaucoma
Hyperopia (Farsightedness)
Keratoconus
Macular Degeneration
Myopia (Nearsightedness)
Presbyopia (Reading Vision)
Retinal Detachment |
Cataracts
A
cataract is a clouding of the crystalline lens inside the eye,
preventing light from properly focusing on the retina in the back
of the eye. Cataract surgery is the most commonly performed
outpatient surgery in the United States.
Most cataracts are related to age. It is estimated that
approximately 20.5 million Americans (one of every six people age
40 and older) have cataracts. By the age of 80, more than half of
all Americans will have a cataract. Although cataracts usually
develop with age, they can also result from eye trauma, certain
diseases like diabetes, genetic inheritance, smoking, certain
medications, and frequent unprotected exposure to UVA light.
The clouding of the natural clear lens in the eye results in
blurred vision near and far, decreased color contrast, increased
glare and/or halos around lights at night, and frequent changes in
glasses prescriptions. When a cataract is small, the cloudiness
affects only a small part of the lens, and you may not notice any
changes in your vision. Cataracts tend to grow slowly, so vision
gradually gets worse over time.
No medications can
reverse or prevent cataracts, but they can be removed through an
outpatient procedure that takes only minutes. There are no
needles, no stitches, and no patches involved. Your insurance will
usually cover the cost of surgery. A cataract can be detected
through a comprehensive dilated eye exam. You can protect yourself
against vision loss by working with your eye doctor and
maintaining annual exams. |
