Eye-Opening Information About Cataracts

In the Journal Sentinel in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, an article titled “Eye-opening Facts and Myths About Eye Health” was released explaining the startling facts about eye health and cataracts.  Cataracts is the leading cause of blindness among older adults.  More than half Americans have cataracts by the age of 80.

So what is this disease that more than half of elderly Americans suffer from?  Cataracts is a clouding of the eye’s lens.  A cataract blocks light needed for sight.  Your vision may become blurry or dim because light can’t pass properly through the lens to the retina.  Another difference between a cataract eye and a normal eye is the scattered light rays between the lens and the retina.

How does one know if they have a cataract?  Three changes to your vision that might be a sign of a cataract are: blurred or double vision, light seeming to dim for reading or up-close work, and changing eye prescriptions often.

How does one treat cataracts? Surgery is the only proven treatment for cataracts.  Similar to removing a lens from a camera, cataract surgery replaces the old lens with an intraocular lens implant.  The intraocular lens implant is an artificial lens that come the closest to a normal human lens.

What will one’s sight be like after the surgery?  The lenses move with the eye, therefore there is no loss of side vision with the lens.  Yet, you may not be able to see distant objects clearly for some time after surgery.  If you decide not to have a surgery, cataract eyeglasses magnify everything 30%.