Eye condition · Eye diseases
Cataract
A cataract clouds the eye's natural lens and is very common with age. Learn the early signs, the risk factors and what cataract surgery involves.
What it is
The lens behind your pupil is normally clear. A cataract is a cloudy area in that lens. Most cataracts develop slowly with age as proteins in the lens break down and clump together. According to the National Eye Institute, by age 80 more than half of all Americans either have cataracts or have had surgery to remove them.
Symptoms
- Cloudy, blurry or dim vision
- Colors that look faded or yellowish
- Glare and halos around lights, and trouble driving at night
- Needing more light to read
- Frequent changes to your glasses prescription
- Double vision in one eye
Who is at risk
Age is the main risk factor. Others include diabetes, smoking, heavy drinking, a lot of sun exposure without eye protection, long-term steroid use, eye injury, previous eye surgery and a family history of cataract.
How it is diagnosed
An eye doctor checks your vision and examines the lens through a dilated pupil with a slit lamp microscope.
Treatment
In the early stages, a new glasses prescription, brighter lighting and anti-glare sunglasses can help. When a cataract interferes with daily life, cataract surgery replaces the cloudy lens with a clear artificial lens (an intraocular lens, or IOL). It is one of the most common and successful operations performed, usually as an outpatient procedure taking well under an hour.
You can choose between standard monofocal lenses and premium options, such as toric lenses that correct astigmatism and multifocal or extended-depth-of-focus lenses that reduce the need for glasses.
Prevention
You cannot fully prevent cataracts, but you can lower your risk: wear sunglasses and a brimmed hat outdoors, do not smoke, control diabetes, and eat plenty of fruit and vegetables.
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Questions people ask
When should I have cataract surgery?
When cloudy vision gets in the way of things you need or want to do, such as driving at night, reading or working. There is usually no need to rush, but waiting too long can make surgery more complex.
Can a cataract come back?
No, the clouded lens is removed. Months or years later, the capsule holding the new lens can turn hazy. This is fixed in minutes with a laser in the office.
Do eye drops dissolve cataracts?
No. Despite online claims, no drop has been proven to remove a cataract. Surgery is the only cure.