Cataracts Specialist

What are cataracts?

The lens sits behind the colored part of your eye (iris) and bends (refracts) light rays to help you see. Healthy lenses are clear, but cataracts cause them to become cloudy. When you have cataracts, it may seem like you’re looking at objects through a foggy or dusty window.

What are the symptoms of cataracts?

Most cataracts develop gradually and don’t cause vision changes in their early stages. Over time, you may notice signs and symptoms such as:

• Cloudy or blurry vision
• Seeing double
• Sensitivity to light
• Difficulty seeing at night
• Seeing halos around lights
• Seeing colors as faded or yellowed

Cataracts may also cause you to update your eyeglasses or contact lenses to a stronger prescription more frequently than usual.

What causes cataracts?

Most cataracts develop as a result of aging. This is due to normal eye changes that typically begin around age 40, such as the breakdown of proteins in your lens.

As the proteins break down and clump together, they cause cloudiness or opaque spots to form. Cloudy spots that develop in your 40s and 50s may not cause vision changes at first. After age 60, most cataracts cause vision problems.

Certain factors may increase your risk of cataracts, including:

• Having a family history of cataracts
• Ultraviolet damage to your eyes
• Medical conditions, such as diabetes
• Previous eye injuries

Lifestyle factors, such as smoking and alcohol consumption, may also increase your risk of developing cataracts.

How are cataracts diagnosed and treated?

First, the team at Goetzinger Eye Institute reviews your medical history and performs a comprehensive eye exam. They may take several tests, including:

• Visual acuity test to measure how well you see at various distances
• Tonometry to measure the pressure inside your eye
• Pupil dilation to visually examine your lens

Then, they recommend the best treatment for your specific condition. Early cataract symptoms may improve with stronger corrective lenses, brighter lighting, and anti-glare sunglasses. If these treatments don’t improve your vision, surgery is the only effective solution.

During cataract surgery, your provider at Goetzinger Eye Institute removes the cloudy lens and replaces it with a clear, artificial one.

To learn more about treating and preventing cataracts, call Goetzinger Eye Institute or book an appointment online today.