Are You At Risk Of Cataracts?
Losing your sharp vision to age isn’t the only threat that your eyes face over time. Cataracts are also a major concern, especially for the elderly. Learn all about cataracts to identify your risk level and seek the treatment you need to preserve as much of your vision as possible.
What Are Cataracts?
A cataract forms when the normally clear lens of the eye becomes yellow or cloudy, making everything appear like it is behind a foggy or frosty window. It’s not a sudden condition, but one that gradually forms until it can no longer be resolved with just eyeglasses and stronger lighting.
On a healthy eye, the lens sits positioned behind the colored iris and works to focus light that passes into the eye. When the lens does this correctly, the membrane on the back inside wall of the eyeball basically functions like the film of a camera to help images become visible. However, as the lens yellows into a cataract, the cataract scatters incoming light and prevents sharply defined images from reaching the retina like it should.
What Are the Common Symptoms of Cataracts?
A cataract can be identified from a few different symptoms, none of which should be ignored or assumed to be insignificant.
- You need to change your eyeglasses or contact prescription
- You see halos around lights
- Increased sensitivity to light and glare
- Double vision
- Cloudy vision
As the cataract grows, the symptoms will become more obvious, until you can no longer ignore them. You may also notice that the natural lens of your eye looking yellow. (more…)
It would be wonderful if vision never faded or changed, but the unfortunate reality is that the majority of adults will experience significant vision problems as they get older. Many of these vision problems are caused by cataracts, the yellowing or clouding of the lense of the eye. Cataracts used to be considered an irreversible condition, but thanks to Crystalens implants, cataract patients now have a second chance at clear vision.