Health Info

A cataract is a type of film that actually grows within the eye causing a clouding effect of the eye’s lens. Since the lens is what allows people to focus on light, as well as produce sharp images, once a cataract develops vision is distorted and unclear.

The lens of the eye is contained in a type of capsule. Over time old cells begin to die off becoming trapped inside that same capsule. As cells accumulate, cloudiness forms otherwise known as a cataract, which causes things to appear fuzzy or blurry.

Typically age is a big factor in the development of cataracts. For that reason, you see more elderly with cataracts than you do younger people. However, some instances are reported of younger individuals also developing cataracts. Because this condition affects people 55 and older it is rated as the number one cause of vision loss. In addition to age, cataracts can also result from diabetes, eye injury, alcoholism, and some medications.

If you have noticed that your vision is becoming fuzzy, not as sharp as normal, you need to see an eye doctor. This professional would conduct a thorough test of the eye to confirm the existence of a cataract. If one is found, you may be a candidate for cataract surgery. With this, the clouded area of the lens is removed. In most cases, cataract surgery can be performed on an outpatient basis which takes about eight hours to include testing, surgery, and recovery time.

During surgery you may or may not be asleep. In fact many doctors will simply provide something to help you relax and then numb the eye. During the surgical procedure you will generally feel only slight pressure. Once the surgery is complete the eye is cleaned, treated with antibiotics, and patched. If everything goes as expected, you would leave the hospital within a few hours of having the procedure performed.

If you have cataracts in both eyes your doctor will likely suggest you have them operated on at different times. While some doctors will operate on them together, usually a few days to weeks is suggested. The great thing about having a cataract removed is that while things appear a little blurry immediately after surgery, each day improvement is noticed.

Keep in mind that in most cataract surgeries, the doctor will add an implant which replaces the natural lens or cataract. Although there are times when an implant is not required this is rare. This implant obviously protects the eye while giving you the ability to see once the old lens is taken out. Today cataract surgery is common, with little to no risk.