Cataracts
Risk Factors for Cataracts
In addition to aging, other factors, including the following, can increase the risk of developing cataracts:
- Diabetes
- Smoking
- Obesity
- Excessive alcohol use
- Excessive exposure to sunlight
- Exposure to radiation
- Family history of cataracts
- High blood pressure
- Previous eye injury or surgery
- Prolonged use of corticosteroid medications
In rare instances, infants are born with cataracts, which may be the result of an infection, such as rubella, contracted by the mother during pregnancy. They may also occur in combination with some other birth defect. Occasionally, infants develop cataracts shortly after birth.
Diagnosis of Cataracts
Several tests, including the following, are performed to diagnose cataracts:
- Retinal examination under pupil dilation
- Visual acuity test
- Slit-lamp examination
- Tonometry to test intraocular pressure (IOP)
In combination, such tests help determine whether a patient has cataracts, or whether her or his vision problems have some other cause. They also assist in evaluating the degree of visual impairment, and whether surgery should be performed.
Symptoms of Cataracts
People with cataracts often do not realize they have them until vision is affected. Cataract symptoms include the following:
- Blurred, hazy or double vision in one eye
- Decreased color perception
- Sensitivity to bright light
- Poor night vision
- Perception of halos around lights
- Frequent changes in corrective-lens prescriptions
- Yellow-tinged vision
Treatment of Cataracts
Early cataracts can sometimes be treated with nonsurgical methods, including the following:
- New corrective-lens prescriptions
- Anti-glare sunglasses
- Magnifying lenses
- Brighter lighting
If cataracts begin to interfere with reading ability, work, night driving or other daily activities, cataract surgery may be recommended. If cataracts are in both eyes, surgery is performed, usually 4 to 8 weeks apart, on one eye at a time. Cataract surgery is the most common surgical procedure in the United States.
Prevention of Cataracts
Although cataracts cannot be prevented, their development can sometimes be delayed by the following:
- Wearing wide-brimmed hats to block sunlight
- Wearing sunglasses that block ultraviolet rays
- Not smoking; not drinking excessively
- Eating a diet high in antioxidants
Left untreated, cataracts cause serious visual impairment. In most cases, however, they can be effectively treated with surgery once they become intrusive in everyday life.