Arthur Benjamin, MD
Los Angeles Cataract Surgery Specialist
What is a Cataract?
A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of your eye. It's like trying to see through a frosty or fogged-up window. Clouded vision can make it more difficult to read, drive a car or see the expression on a friend's face. Cataracts commonly affect distance vision and cause problems with glare. They generally don't cause pain.
Clouding of the lens is a normal part of getting older. About half of Americans 65 and older have some degree of clouding of the lens. After age 75, as many as 70 percent of Americans have cataracts that are significant enough to impair their vision.
Most cataracts develop slowly and don't disturb your eyesight early on. But as the clouding progresses, the cataract eventually interferes with your vision.
If impaired vision jeopardizes your normal lifestyle, you might need cataract surgery. Fortunately, cataract eye surgery is one of the safest, most effective and most common surgical procedures.
Symptoms of a cataract include:
- Clouded, blurred or dim vision
- Increasing difficulty with vision at night
- Sensitivity to light and glare
- Halos around lights
- The need for brighter light for reading and other activities
- Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescription
- Fading or yellowing of colors
- Double vision in a single eye
If you have a cataract, light from the sun, lamps or oncoming headlights may seem too bright. Glare and halos around lights can make driving uncomfortable and dangerous. You may experience eyestrain or find yourself blinking more often to clear your vision.
Cataracts don't typically cause any change in the appearance of your eye or in the production of tears. Pain, redness, itching, irritation, aching in your eye or a discharge from your eye aren't signs or symptoms of a cataract, but may be signs and symptoms of other eye disorders.
A cataract isn't dangerous to the physical health of your eye unless the cataract becomes completely white, a condition known as an overripe (hypermature) cataract. This can cause inflammation, pain and headache. A hypermature cataract is extremely rare and needs removal via cataract eye surgery as soon as possible.
Risk factors
Everyone is at risk of developing cataracts simply because age is the single greatest risk factor.
Other factors that increase your risk of cataracts include:
- Diabetes
- Family history of cataracts
- Previous eye injury or inflammation
- Previous eye surgery
- Prolonged use of corticosteroids
- Excessive exposure to sunlight
Screening and diagnosis
The only way to know for sure if you have a cataract is to have an eye examination that includes several tests:
Visual acuity test. Acuity refers to the sharpness of your vision or how clearly you see an object. In this test, your eye doctor checks to see how well you read letters from across the room. Your eyes are tested one at a time, while the other eye is covered. Using the chart with progressively smaller letters from top to bottom, your eye doctor determines if you have 20/20 vision or less acute vision.
Slit-lamp examination. A slit lamp allows your eye doctor to see the structures at the front of your eye under magnification. The microscope is called a slit lamp because it uses an intense line of light — a slit — to illuminate your cornea, iris, lens and the space between your iris and cornea. The slit allows your doctor to view these structures in small sections, which makes it easier to detect any small abnormalities.
Retinal examination. In this procedure, your eye doctor puts dilating drops in your eyes to open your pupils wide and provide a bigger window to the back of your eyes. Using a slit lamp or a special device called an ophthalmoscope, he or she can examine your lens for signs of a cataract and, if needed, determine how dense the clouding is. Your eye doctor will also check for glaucoma and, if you have blurred vision or discomfort, for other problems involving the retina and the optic nerve. Dilating drops usually keep your pupils open for a few hours before their effect gradually wears off. Until then, you'll probably have difficulty focusing on close objects, while your distance vision is generally less affected. With your pupils open this wide, you'll probably want sunglasses for your trip home, especially if it's a bright day. Also, it's safer to let someone else do the driving.
Cataract Eye Surgery Treatments
Prevention
Most cataracts occur with age and can't be avoided altogether. Regular eye exams remain the key to early detection. If you're over age 60, schedule eye exams at least every other year. You can take steps to help slow or prevent the development of cataracts:
- Don't smoke. Smoking produces free radicals, increasing your risk of cataracts.
- Eat a balanced diet. Include plenty of fruits and vegetables.
- Protect yourself from the sun. Ultraviolet light may contribute to the development of cataracts. Whenever possible, wear sunglasses when you are outdoors.
- Take care of other health problems. Follow your treatment plan if you have diabetes or other medical conditions.
Researchers are continuing to explore new ways to prevent and treat cataracts, such as developing medications that would reduce or eliminate the need for cataract eye surgery. But, until such a medication exists, your chances of fully restoring your vision with cataract eye surgery are excellent if you have no other eye diseases.
To schedule an appointment for an evaluation for cataract eye surgery, please call 310.275.5533 and we would be happy to help you. Or click here.
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