54. Cataracts: New Ways to Restore Vision
Imagine a thick cloud covering the lens of one or both eyes and you’ll have a pretty good idea of what it’s like to have cataracts. Vision dims, even in broad daylight. Nighttime vision is glazed. Sometimes you see double and your eyes are sensitive to light. Your pupils may appear milky white. (Fortunately, cataracts are painless.)
Other symptoms to be alert for:
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•Cloudy, fuzzy, foggy, or filmy vision.
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•Colors are dull and more difficult to distinguish.
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•Glare from lights becomes bothersome, especially at night.
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•Frequent changes in eyeglass prescriptions. Better near vision for a while, but only in far-sighted people.
The most common cause of cataracts is the aging process. Overexposure to ultraviolet (UV) light, specific damage to an eye, and some diseases, such as diabetes can also lead to cataracts. If the vision loss caused by a cataract is only slight, surgery may not be needed. A change in your glasses, stronger bifocals, or the use of magnifying lenses, and taking measures to reduce glare may help improve your vision and be enough for treatment.
Modern cataract surgery is safe and effective in restoring vision. Cataract surgery is usually done on an outpatient basis.
A person who has cataract surgery usually gets an artificial lens at the same time. A plastic disc called an intraocular lens is placed in the lens capsule inside the eye. Other choices are contact lenses and cataract glasses. Your doctor will help you to decide which choice is best for you.
