Observe Cataract Awareness Month with Our Comprehensive Guide

What Are Cataracts?

With statistics like the ones above, you may be picturing cataracts as some sort of serious plague-like eye condition, spreading across the globe and damaging everyone’s eyes to rob them of their sight. The truth is that cataracts are a relatively benign condition that occur naturally as we age.

To understand how cataracts form, it’s important to understand a little about the anatomy of your eye. Inside your eye is a clear, flexible lens. This is the part of your body that helps to focus light on structures in the back of the eye (the retina) to produce signals that your brain interprets as an image. It works sort of the way a camera works. The lens itself is made of a combination of collagen, the same material found in hair and fingernails, and proteins. In fact, the majority of the lens is made up of proteins.

As we age, these proteins in the lens gradually break down. Eventually, the proteins reach a point where they start to clump together in the lens. This clumping of proteins causes the once-clear lens to begin to get cloudy. As time passes, the cloud of proteins grows larger and larger until it obstructs vision entirely. This is why people with severe cataracts may appear like they have cloudy or milky pupils. Because cataracts are a result of the body’s natural aging process, most people will develop them at some point starting after the age of 40.

What Causes Cataracts to Form?

Aside from the natural aging of the eye, there are other health conditions that speed up the progression of cataracts or lead to more severe cataracts. These include diabetic eye conditions, high blood pressure, excessive use of steroids, obesity, significant alcohol consumption, exposure to too much sunlight, smoking, previous eye surgeries or injuries, and genetic factors.

While nothing can completely prevent the natural formation of cataracts, adopting healthy lifestyle habits like eating right, exercising regularly, and abstaining from smoking or excessive drinking can significantly reduce the risk of cataracts.

The Different Types of Cataracts

While all cataracts can lead to blindness and are generally treated with the same surgical procedure, you might be surprised to learn that there are different types of cataracts. Cataracts are generally classified based on where they form and at what age. There are currently five types of cataracts that eye doctors see most commonly:

• Nuclear Cataracts: Cataracts that form in the center of the lens and impact both near and far vision. 

• Cortical Cataracts: Cataracts that form on the side of the lens and block central vision. 

• Posterior Subcapsular Cataracts: Cataracts that form at the back of the lens and quickly impact vision in those with diabetic eye conditions. 

• Congenital Cataracts: Cataracts that affect children and can impact a child’s visual development. 

• Secondary Cataracts: Complications associated with cataract surgery that have similar symptoms to cataracts. 

For more information on the different types of cataracts, how they form, and what symptoms to look out for, check out our comprehensive guide to cataract types.

When Should You See an Eye Doctor for Cataracts?

Many patients who are told they are starting to develop cataracts naturally wonder when it’s time to seek treatment. The answer usually depends on how much it interrupts your daily activities. If you have a small cortical cataract that isn’t blocking vision and hasn’t developed to the point you’re having issues with glare, it may be safe to watch and wait.

That being said, there are some symptoms you should be on the lookout for that could indicate it’s time to see the doctor for cataract surgery.

• Glare or halos around lights

• Trouble seeing in dim or low-light settings

• Difficulty with night driving

• Shadowing of your vision

• Seeing color in a yellowish hue or as extremely faded

• Poor color vision

If you are experiencing any of the above, consider contacting your nearest Clarkson Eyecare and scheduling a cataract consultation appointment.

How Are Cataracts Treated?

Once a cataract has fully formed, the only way to treat it is with cataract surgery. During this surgery, the doctor will make a small incision on the part of your eye where the clear cornea meets the white. A probe is used to break up the clouded natural lens and before it is vacuumed out. An artificial lens is then inserted through the same small incision to perform the same job as your natural lens. Your cornea is sealed up, and the healing process begins. There are no shots or sutures, only a few eyedrops!

Normally, the whole procedure takes no more than 10 minutes. If you have cataracts in both eyes, we usually prefer to do one eye at a time with a few weeks in between surgeries to make sure you’re healing well. Recovery differs by person, but most patients report being able to resume normal daily activities after a day or two. To learn more about our surgical procedures, visit the Cataract Treatment page.

Lifestyle Tips for Preventing Cataract Development

Even though age-related cataracts can’t be stopped entirely, eye-healthy habits can delay their onset and slow their progression. The key is to protect your eyes from oxidative stress, the same “wear and tear” that turns the clear lens cloudy over time. Start with the strategies below and feel free to discuss additional options with your eye care provider.

1. Wear UV-Blocking Sunglasses: Ultraviolet light accelerates lens damage. By wearing full-spectrum sunglasses, you can decrease exposure to UV rays and potentially delay cataract formation. 

2. Quit Smoking: Smokers are two to three times more likely to develop cataracts because tobacco toxins create free radicals that cloud the lens. 

3. Follow an Antioxidant-Rich Diet: Load your plate with spinach, kale, citrus fruit, berries, carrots, and fish. Vitamins C and E, lutein, and zeaxanthin neutralize oxidative stress inside the eye. 

4. Keep Your Blood Sugar in Check: Uncontrolled diabetes causes sugar molecules to bind to the lens proteins, speeding up clouding. Good glucose control can postpone surgery and slow cataract development. 

5. Use Protective Eyewear: A serious eye injury can trigger traumatic cataracts, a clouding of the lens caused by foreign objects coming in contact with the eye. Wear safety glasses during sports, yard work, or any high-risk task to reduce your exposure.