June is National Cataract Awareness Month. Here at 1st Eye Care Arlington, preventing and treating cataract is a cause we’re fairly passionate about. The stats are startling:
According to Prevent Blindness America, nearly 20.5 million Americans over the age of 40 suffer from cataracts. But among elderly Americans, nearly 70 percent of all Americans are affected by cataracts by age 75. In total, more than 30 million Americans are expected to have cataracts by 2020, costing more than $7 billion each year in treatment.
Our guiding philosophy for cataracts is simple: Diagnose early. Treat early. Practice healthy life habits that can prevent cataracts from forming in the first place. And help all of our friends and patients learn as much as they can about cataracts in order to stay informed and stay healthy.
Let’s take a look:
What are cataracts?
Basically, a cataract is when the lens of one of your eyes gets clouded. The lens, of course, plays a key role in the quality of your vision by regulating how light passes into the inner-eye and by focusing images that get passed to your retina. A cataract hinders the way light filters through, which causes vision to blur, cloud, or dim.
The clouding often comes from clumps of protein that can build up on the eye, as well as general wear and tear to the lens.
What causes cataracts?
Certain cataracts causes can’t really be helped, including diabetes, family history, and eye injuries. Age-related cataracts develop from protein buildup on the lens, or from the gradual “yellowing” or tinting of the lens (aka lens discoloration). But there are some habits that can contribute to cataract development that people can avoid, including smoking, overexposure to UV rays from tanning beds or the sun, or steroid use.
How do I know if I have cataracts?
Most of the standard eyesight ailments could indicate a cataract, including blurry or double vision, or the dimming of otherwise clear vision. If it feels like you’re reading in a dark room, if you notice a distinct drop in your night vision, or if bright lights begin to cause headaches or eye pain, the problem could be cataracts. Yellow (or milky) spots in the pupil could also be a symptom.
Since cataracts share symptoms with other eyesight problems, be sure to schedule an appointment for an eye exam in Arlington with us as soon as you notice something amiss. Proper, rapid diagnosis is key to effective treatment.
How can a cataract be treated?
Specific eyeglasses can help treat the symptoms of early cataracts. But surgery is the only cure. If you are diagnosed with Cataracts, Our doctors will discuss the new advances available with Cataract surgery using multifocal IOLs to not only improve your vision but also can eliminate the need for eyeglasses after surgery.
Nearly three million Americans will undergo cataract surgery in 2011, where an artificial lens replaces the clouded lens. In fact, cataract surgery is the most common surgery performed in the United States. With so much practice, eye surgeons have gotten pretty good at it too — cataract surgery boasts a 95 percent success rate (you might still need corrective lenses after the surgery, but you’ll be able to see again). Cataracts usually develop slowly, so early detection can make full recovery more likely.
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