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What are Cataracts?
Cataracts are a common eye condition that affects millions of people, often becoming noticeable in the mid-60s. A cataract is the clouding of the eye’s natural lens, which impairs vision and can make everyday activities like reading, driving, or recognizing faces challenging. If left untreated, they can lead to eventual blindness. According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology (AAO), cataracts are the number one cause of preventable blindness worldwide.
Cataracts and Age: A Natural Change
As we age, changes to the lens of the eye are inevitable, and cataracts are a naturally occurring phenomenon for many people. They often develop slowly and painlessly, so vision and lifestyle can be affected without a person realizing it. While cataracts can sometimes develop earlier, they are most common in people over 60, making routine eye exams essential for early detection.
Other Causes of Cataracts
Cataracts can result from various factors beyond aging. Genetics play a crucial role, as a family history of cataracts significantly raises the risk. Eye injuries, particularly severe trauma, may damage the eye’s structure, leading to cataract formation, while surgeries for conditions like glaucoma can also contribute. Long-term steroid use and health issues such as diabetes, which involves sustained high blood sugar levels, are known contributors. Lifestyle habits like smoking and heavy alcohol consumption gradually impair the lens, and extended exposure to UV radiation compounds the damage. Even prenatal infections, such as rubella or cytomegalovirus, can result in congenital cataracts, affecting a child’s vision from birth. Recognizing these varied causes stresses the importance of prevention and timely intervention.
Detecting Cataracts: The Role of Your Performance Eyecare Doctor
At Performance Eyecare, your optometrist can identify cataracts during a comprehensive eye exam. If cataracts are detected but aren’t significantly affecting your vision, their progression can be managed with simple steps like minimizing UV exposure and wearing sunglasses that offer 100% UVA/UVB protection. Early-stage management often involves small adjustments, and surgery may not be necessary in many cases.
If your cataracts begin to impact your quality of life, your optometrist will refer you to a trusted ophthalmologist or “cataract specialist” for surgical treatment.
Cataract Surgery: A Proven Path to Clearer Vision
Cataract surgery is the definitive treatment for cataracts. The procedure involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with a clear intraocular lens (IOL). According to the AAO, it is both highly effective and incredibly common, with over 3 million Americans undergoing cataract surgery annually. The success rate of the procedure is exceptional, exceeding 97% when performed in proper medical settings.
What to Expect During Cataract Surgery
Cataract surgery is a quick and virtually painless procedure. Patients are typically awake and experience only minor discomfort. In the U.S., the most common cataract surgery method is phacoemulsification, where ultrasound energy breaks the cataract into tiny particles that are then removed. Another method, extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE), involves removing the cataract in one piece. While traditional ECCE required large incisions and stitches, newer small-incision ECCE techniques allow for a suture-free procedure, making recovery easier. Most people notice improved vision within days of the surgery, making it a transformative experience for those suffering from the effects of cataracts.
The Healing Process and Follow-Up Care
After surgery, follow-up care is critical to ensure optimal healing and vision restoration. Your Performance Eyecare optometrist will work closely with your ophthalmologist to monitor your recovery, address any concerns, and fine-tune your vision care plan. Regular follow-up visits help detect and address any potential complications early, optimize the results of your surgery, and ensure your eyes are healthy moving forward. These check-ins are essential to maintaining your new, clearer vision.
Take the First Step Toward Better Vision
If cataracts are clouding your world, it may be time for surgery. Book an appointment with Performance Eyecare today. Our team will refer you to a reputable cataract specialist and guide you every step of the way to a brighter, clearer future. Let us help you see the world clearly again. Schedule your eye exam now!
At Performance Eyecare we put the CARE in Eyecare.