Cataract

A cataract is when the lens of your eye slowly gets cloudy. This does not hurt, but it causes your vision to get worse over time.

Cataract

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WESTERN OPHTHALMIC HOSPITAL/SCIENCE PHOTO LIBRARY

• Among other symptoms, your vision may not be as sharp

• An eye doctor can diagnose a cataract by examining your eyes

• When you can no longer see well enough, the cataract can be removed

The cause of cataracts is not always known. Often cataracts develop as you get older. However, other causes include:

• An eye injury

• Diseases such as diabetes

• Certain eye diseases

• Using certain medicines (such as corticosteroids) for a long time

• Not protecting your eyes from the sun

• Poor nutrition

• Smoking

• Drinking too much alcohol

Symptoms may vary from person to person but can include:

• Blurry vision

• Seeing halos and glare around lights

• Poor night vision

• Less often, double vision

• Colors seeming more yellow and less bright than normal

• Rarely, pain

The Lens

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Doctors do a full eye exam to see if you have a cataract, where the cataract is, and how much light it’s blocking.

At first, you might use eyeglasses or contact lenses to help you see better. There are no eye drops or medicines that will make cataracts go away.

At some point, your vision may get bad enough that you feel unsafe or unable to do your daily tasks. Then doctors will do surgery to remove your cataract. During surgery, doctors replace your eye's natural lens with an artificial (man-made) one. Surgery takes about 30 minutes. You can go home the same day. Cataract surgery can be done on a person of any age and is generally safe even for people with illnesses such as heart disease and diabetes.

After surgery:

• You’ll use eye drops to prevent infection and help your eye heal

• You'll have some follow-up visits with your doctor

• Your vision will improve within a few weeks after surgery, but you may still need glasses for reading or driving at night

• Rarely you might have an infection, bleeding, high pressure, or swelling in your eye

• Doctors will treat any problem that may develop

To help prevent cataracts:

• Protect your eyes from the sun by wearing glasses or sunglasses with a UV (ultraviolet) coating

• If you take corticosteroids regularly, ask your doctor about switching to a different medicine

• If you have diabetes, keep your blood sugar at a good level

• Eat foods with vitamins C and A and with nutrients called carotenoids (found in carrots, sweet potatoes, and dark green leafy vegetables such as spinach and kale)

• Don't smoke or drink too much alcohol