Cataracts - Get the Facts

A cataract is clouding of the lens of the eye. Most cataracts start out small and progress slowly until vision is impaired. Some cataracts will never cause significant vision problems, but in many cases the lens of the eye must be replaced in order to restore vision.

A healthy lens is clear, allowing light to pass through and focusing that light on the retina. When the lens becomes clouded the light is not focused properly and vision becomes blurred.

There are several types of cataracts including:

• Age related cataracts – the most common type of cataracts, age related cataracts form as we age and are accelerated by smoking, alcohol use, sun exposure, poor diet, and steroid use.
• Congenital cataracts – cataracts that are already present at birth.
• Traumatic cataract – forms after an injury to the eye.
• Radiation cataracts – caused by radiation exposure.
• Secondary cataracts – form after surgery or due to a medical condition or disease such as glaucoma or diabetes.

Click to View the Interactive Cataracts and Glaucoma Vision Test.

Cataracts usually start out very small, and do not always develop to the point that they seriously impair vision. They are not dangerous in that, if left untreated, they do not cause other or irreversible damage to the eye. They can be removed, so if you are experiencing vision problems, it is worth finding out if cataracts are the cause. Symptoms of cataracts include:

• Glare
• Poor night vision
• Faded colors
• Double vision even with one eye closed
• Cloudy vision
• Blurry vision
• Frequent change in prescription for corrective lenses

Cataracts form when the protein in the lens of your eye starts to clump together. These clumps reduce the amount of light that reaches the retina making vision dim and eventually blurry. A healthy lens is clear, but over time the lens may darken, turning a yellow or brown color. This discoloration will also impair vision, making colors more difficult to distinguish, but does not blur vision.

Prevention
As with most ailments, diet and lifestyle are the main components in the prevention of cataracts.

• Protect your eyes from the sun by wearing good sunglasses with UV protection. Wear a hat that fully shades your eyes.
• Eat foods that are rich in antioxidants and essential fatty acids. Vitamins E and C and the B vitamins, riboflavin and thiamin, are known to help prevent cataracts.
• Cut back on sugar. High levels of sugar in the blood contribute to the formation of cataracts.
• Cut back on calories. In animal studies cutting calories has actually reduced existing cataracts.
• Do not smoke and do not drink excessively.
• Cut back on foods that cause sinus congestion, such as dairy. Sinus congestion impairs lymph and blood flow around the eyes.
• Stay away from microwave ovens. Microwave ovens cause cataracts both from radiation leakage and the effect that the microwaves themselves have on proteins in food.

Treatment
Cataracts can be removed by surgically removing the lens of your eye and replacing it with an artificial lens. The artificial lens becomes a permanent part of your eye and requires no special care once your eye has fully healed.

Cataract symptoms can be a sign of other, more damaging eye conditions. If you are experiencing vision problems schedule an appointment with your cataract surgeon today. Dr. Khanna of the Khanna Institute in Los Angeles and Beverly Hills, California has years of experience in cataract surgery and intra-ocular lens surgery.