Cataracts-The Sneaking Clouding of Your Vision
Chances are you have heard the term cataract before. Maybe you associate it with something that happens to the vision of the elderly or a worry you can put off for another day assuming your vision has yet to change. But cataracts are not something to live in fear over. Cataracts develop as proteins in the natural lens of the eye break down over time and start to clump together. This clumping forms a cataract that interferes with light passing through the usually clear lens of the eye to the retina. Cataract types include pediatric cataracts, traumatic cataracts, secondary cataracts and age-related cataracts, the latter being the most common. By age 40, proteins in the lens begin to break down but most people won’t notice symptoms until age 60 or older.
The first symptom of cataracts is blurred vision, akin to looking through a foggy window. Cataracts are not painful but can bring on other symptoms such as changes in color, sensitivity to light, glares, halos, difficulty seeing at night, the need for a brighter light when reading, double vision and changes to your current vision prescription. While more than 50% of people aged 80 older develop cataracts, environmental, genetic and medical risk factors can increase your odds of developing cataracts sooner. These include air pollution, smoking, alcohol consumption, industrial chemicals, pesticides, long-term UV exposure, radiation therapy, genetic mutations, diabetes, glaucoma, use of corticosteroids and certain eye diseases.
The sneaking clouding of your vision caused by cataracts will develop in 4 stages: early cataract, immature cataract, mature cataracts and hypermature cataracts. In the first stage, early cataract development, there are hardly any noticeable changes to vision. Vision may become slightly blurred and you may have headaches and difficulty focusing. A change in your current vision prescription often remedies the issue. In the second stage, immature cataract, the lens grows cloudier and becomes difficult to see through causing blurred vision, particularly in low-light conditions. Cataracts progress slowly. It could be years before cataracts evolve in a way that compromises vision quality. At stage 3, mature cataract, cataracts are noticeably larger, the pupil has changed from a deep black to a deep green color and blurred vision is consistent making daily activities increasingly more difficult. Typically, this is the stage where your ophthalmologist will discuss cataract surgery, a process to remove the natural lens of the eye with an artificial intraocular lens to improve vision. If left to the fourth stage, hypermature cataract, cataract surgery will still be required but the cataract will have hardened as well significantly impacted the appearance of the eye and vision.
If your vision has become blurred, make an appointment with Pennachio Eye. There are many reasons why your vision may become cloudy, but especially if you are of advanced age, it’s worthwhile to have a comprehensive eye exam for your overall eye health and to determine if you may be experiencing the early symptoms of cataract development. Call today at 325-227-1999 or book online at WEBSITE.