Cataract causes & treatment

Cataracts are the principal cause of blindness in the world

Cataracts are the most common cause of vision loss among people age 40 and older. According to All About Vision, cataracts also are the principal cause of blindness in the world.

There are more cases of cataracts worldwide than there are glaucoma, macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy, states Prevent Blindness America. Fortunately, cataracts are easily recognized and treated. What are cataracts?

A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision. The lens is the clear part of the eye that helps focus light - and images - on the retina. The lens must be clear to receive a sharp image. If the lens is cloudy, vision will be blurred.

“It is like having a dirty windshield on your car. Even if you change your glasses, your vision is still going to be blurred until you wash your windshield,” Dr. Steven Vold of Vold Vision points out. “Cataracts are painless, but they can have a profoundly negative impact on vision thereby significantly reducing your quality of life.”

Cataracts tend to form slowly. Initially, they only affect a small part of the lens, and they’re not very bothersome as a result. However, over time, cataracts can grow and impair vision. Seeing “halos” around lights, fading of colors, sensitivity to light, glare, and the need for brighter light for reading and handling tasks are common symptoms.

What causes cataracts?

Various things, including aging or injury to the eye tissue, can cause cataracts. Prior eye surgery, diabetes, long-term use of steroid medications, and inherited genetic disorders also can cause cataracts, says the Mayo Clinic. Smoking and alcohol use as well as consistent exposure to UV sunlight also may contribute to the formation of cataracts. With aging, the lenses in the eyes become less flexible, less transparent and thicker. Tissues within the lens can break down and clump together, clouding small areas within the lens of the eye, thereby forming a cataract.

Cataracts may be a subcapsular cataract, which occurs at the back of the lens. A nuclear cataract forms in the center of the lens. A cortical cataract starts in the periphery of the lens and works its way inward to the center.

What is something most people don’t know about cataracts?

“Almost everyone will eventually develop cataracts,” according to Dr. Vold. “It’s really not a question of if you will get a cataract, but when.” Dr. Vold notes that studies show by age 65, over 90% of people in the U.S. will have cataracts. In fact, an estimated 20.5 million Americans over age 40 are currently impacted by cataracts.

Also, cataract surgery is covered by your medical insurance, and regardless if you have cataracts in their infancy or they are very developed, insurance covers them.

Treating cataracts

Cataracts need only be treated if they are affecting vision severely or preventing examination or treatment of another eye problem. An eye care professional will discuss with patients if surgery is needed.

The National Eye Institute says surgery is safe and effective. In roughly 90 percent of cases, people who have undergone cataract surgery have better vision afterward. The surgery involves removing the clouded lens and replacing it with a clear, artificial one. The procedure is usually done on an outpatient basis and patients typically stay awake during the surgery.

How do I know when I need surgery to correct cataracts?

It’s really a personal choice, according to Dr. Vold.

“We perform cataract surgery on many patients in their early 50’s who are ready to get out of their contacts and glasses,” says Dr. Vold. “With the amazing safety and efficacy of lens extractions, patients now are electing to proceed with cataract surgery much earlier than in the past. For others, they want to wait until their cataracts are interfering with their normal daily living, such as their ability to read or drive.”

Is cataract surgery safe? Is it effective?

Cataract surgery is the most commonly performed surgery in the U.S. It’s an outpatient procedure, and literally only takes a few minutes to complete in the hands of a skilled cataract surgeon. When utilizing cutting edge technology, both safety and efficacy exceed 99% in most clinical studies.

“At Vold Vision, we have the most advanced medical, laser and surgical technology available in the country, and the femtosecond laser we use in cataract surgery takes results to an entirely new level,” Dr. Vold notes. “We are now achieving 20/20 or better vision in greater than 90 percent of our patients. Furthermore, we can now not only provide great distance vision, we are also able to provide patients improved intermediate (computer screen) and near (reading) vision without glasses correction.”

What should someone who is thinking about cataract surgery consider?

“Pick a surgeon who is proven and pick a center that has invested in the state-of-the-art technology,” Dr. Vold advises. “Eyesight is a precious thing, and you want to make sure you are putting your trust in the right team.”