What are Cataracts, who do they affect and how do they happen? Everything you need to know.

Are you noticing bright lights bother your eyes much more than they used to? Does it take a while for your eyes to adjust to a very dim or very bright environment? Do you feel like your eyes just don’t focus as sharp as they used to? It could be a cataract affecting your vision! 

Did you know that cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss in the United States? A routine eye exam can help detect cataracts, and proper cataract management can restore your eyes back to crisp, clear vision. Read more below to find out what a cataract is, how cataracts develop, cataract prevention strategies, and what to do if you think you have a cataract.  

What is a cataract? 

The human eye has a clear lens inside that adjusts its shape to help you see better up close. As people age, the lens becomes less flexible, which is why reading glasses eventually become necessary to see up close. A cataract develops when the lens inside the eye becomes cloudy and difficult to see through. Cataracts can make your vision seem like you are looking through a dirty window. The world may not look as clear, colors may not seem as vibrant, and bright lights may appear blinding. This is especially true for headlights on a car coming towards you! 

Image description: The viewer is looking through a dirty windshield. There are three cars ahead with their headlights shining. Due to the dirtiness of the windshield, the cars' headlights are difficult to see.

How do people get cataracts?

Cataracts typically develop during the normal aging process, but they can also be caused by injuries, certain medications, or medical conditions like diabetes. Age related cataracts are the most common form. As we age and are exposed to the sun, the lens structure inside the eye becomes more yellow and opaque. While cataracts are more common in individuals over 65 years old, they can develop at any age. Some babies are even born with cataracts, which can prevent a child's vision from developing properly if they are not removed. This is why pediatric eye exams are important too; a baby won’t be able to tell you their vision is blurry!

Image description: There are two illustrations of human eyes above two medical illustrations of eyeballs. The top and bottom left photos depict a normal human eye and lens. The top and bottom photos on the right depict a human eye and lens with cataracts. The cataract forms a foggy spot over the iris in the image of cataracts.

How do I prevent cataracts? 

While age-related cataracts develop naturally over time, wearing UV protection may help slow their progression. Wearing a hat or sunglasses with UV protection can help reduce the sun damage that causes cataracts. Most of the sun exposure people receive is in the first 18 years of life, so it’s important for kids to wear sunglasses too!  

If you have diabetes, it’s important to control your blood sugar. If your diabetes is poorly controlled, cataracts can progress quickly and develop at a much younger age than usual. It's also best to avoid tobacco and smoking, as these can speed up cataract formation. To limit your risk factors for cataracts, it’s best to live a healthy lifestyle with a good diet and exercise, control any vascular diseases such as diabetes, and limit sun exposure over your life.

I think I have a cataract, what should I do?

If you think you have a cataract, it’s important to get your eyes examined. Cataracts are generally treatable by surgery. A cloudy cataract can be replaced with a new, clear lens. After cataract surgery, your vision will generally be much better, colors will be more vibrant, and bright lights will be less bothersome. An optometrist can tell you if your cataract is ready for surgery, or if it’s best to monitor. Not all cataracts need surgery right away, in which case your doctor may recommend glasses with UV protection to prevent progression, transition glasses that go dark in the sun, or an anti-reflective coating for helping with bright lights at night. While glasses don’t fix cataracts, proper lenses and the correct prescription can help reduce the severity of the cataract symptoms. 

It’s also essential to maintain routine visits with your eye doctor. It’s possible to have other eye diseases that cause blurry vision. It’s important to have an optometrist follow your eyes over time to manage any other conditions that could affect the eye’s health or vision. 

Who can evaluate for a cataract?

If you would like to be evaluated for cataracts, it’s as easy as scheduling an annual comprehensive eye exam. Serve the People’s skilled optometrists focus on evaluating the whole health of the eye, not just glasses prescriptions.  

Don’t let cataracts cause vision loss in your life, call Serve the People to schedule your next eye exam today at (714) 352-2911. 

This blog was written by Dr. Kathy Mao, Dr. Larry Sieve, and Dr. Norman Chung