Cataract Symptoms
But there are solutions. Cataracts and cataract surgery are the most common vision issues in aging baby boomers and elderly people -- it is one of the most common elderly issues, in fact. As we age, the percentage of our chance to develop cataracts goes up to about 50 percent of elderly over age 75. And cataract surgery is fast becoming one of the most prevalent procedures. What are cataracts? Simply put, they are the clouding over of the eye’s lens, which is crystal clear when healthy. The lens is situated in the eye behind the iris and pupil. You have probably heard of it being compared to a camera lens, adjusting our sight both near and far away. The proteins and water that make up the lens are arranged in a certain way to let light into the eye in correct amounts. As we age, this lens gets cloudy. It is a very common part of aging. And eye doctor once described it to me as, instead of having a clear glass of water, you have a glass of weak iced tea. 
Cataract symptoms can begin subtly at first. They usually start small and the patient does not even detect a change in vision at first. However, they will be noticeable to an eye specialist during an eye exam. Eventually a person may notice cloudy, blurry vision. Colors may seem slightly faded. The sun or indoor lights may seem too bright. Headlights at night may glare. This is because the proper amount of light is no longer able to enter the eye. Most cataracts form slowly and may take years to seriously affect eyesight.
See the photos to the right showing a normal picture, and the same picture that a cataract patient has described. This is typical blurriness that cataracts cause. 
What about cataracts symptoms treatment? When cataract symptoms first appear, the patient can first adjust by using corrective glasses. Some people need magnification while reading, and extra light while doing hobbies, writing, or activities that involve detail.
Eventually the eye doctor may recommend cataract surgery. Although cataracts are one of the major elderly issues, there is a solution. When cataracts interfere with daily activities, cataract surgery is a simple and common process. And cataract surgery recovery is highly successful. What causes cataracts? Several have been identified:
Return from Cataract Symptoms, back to Causes of Blindness. |
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