What Everybody Wants To Know About Cataracts
Cataracts are among the most annoying health conditions that can impact your vision. They are also among the most obstructive to your daily life, which can interfere with your health and safety. Thankfully, there are ways to prevent and treat them.
Do you have questions about cataracts? If so, you're not alone. Here are answers to some of the most commonly asked questions about this eye condition.
What Are Cataracts?
Cataracts happen when the proteins in your eye's lens start to break down. This makes the lens cloudy, which interferes with your vision. Cataracts usually form slowly and can impact people of all ages.
What Causes Cataracts?
There are a few different things that can cause cataracts, including:
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Aging
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Diabetes
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Eye injury or previous eye surgery
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Family history of cataracts
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Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light
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Smoking
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Certain medications, such as steroids
If you have been exposed to any of these situations, you should talk to your eye doctor about the potential for cataracts.
How Can You Tell If You Have Cataracts?
Cataracts usually form slowly, so you might not notice them at first. However, as they progress, you may start to experience symptoms like:
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Blurry vision
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Double vision in one eye
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Glare and halos around lights
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Changes to eye color
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Poor night vision
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Sensitivity to light
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Fading or yellowing of colors
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Needing more
Who Can Get Cataracts?
Cataracts are not just a problem for older adults. In fact, anyone can develop cataracts. If you have risk factors like diabetes or a family history of cataracts, you may be more likely to develop them at a younger age.
Why Do You Have to Treat Cataracts?
Even if your cataracts are not necessarily bothering you right now, you need to get treatment for this condition. Without treatment, cataracts will eventually cause blindness. In addition, cataracts can make it difficult to drive, read, and do other activities that require clear vision.
What Is Involved in Cataract Surgery?
Cataract surgery is a very common and safe procedure. It is usually done as an outpatient procedure, which means you can go home the same day.
During the surgery, your surgeon will make a small incision in your eye and remove the cloudy lens. They will then replace it with a clear artificial lens implant. In most cases, cataract surgery is successful and your vision will be improved.
What Is the Best Way to Get Treatment for Cataracts?
The best way to get treatment for cataracts is to talk to your eye doctor. They can help you determine if you have this condition and what the best treatment options are for you.