Cataract Awareness Month: Your Complete Guide to Cataracts

Understanding Cataracts: What Are They?

With the statistics in mind, you might think of cataracts as a widespread, severe condition that could affect everyone’s vision. However, cataracts are actually a common and relatively harmless condition that occurs naturally as we age.

To understand how cataracts develop, it’s helpful to know a bit about your eye’s anatomy. Inside your eye, there’s a clear, flexible lens that focuses light onto the retina at the back of the eye. This process allows your brain to interpret the light as an image, similar to how a camera lens functions. The lens is made up of a combination of collagen (the same material found in hair and nails) and proteins, with the majority of the lens being protein.

As we get older, the proteins in the lens begin to break down. Over time, these proteins clump together, creating cloudy areas within the lens. As the clumping progresses, it can obstruct vision, which is why those with severe cataracts often have cloudy or milky pupils. Cataracts are a natural part of aging, and most people will develop them at some point, typically starting after the age of 40.

How Do Cataracts Form?

Although aging is the primary cause of cataracts, there are several factors that can speed up their development or make them more severe. These include conditions like diabetes, high blood pressure, overuse of steroids, obesity, excessive alcohol consumption, prolonged sun exposure, smoking, and prior eye surgeries or injuries. Genetics can also play a role in the development of cataracts.

While it’s impossible to completely prevent cataracts due to the aging process, adopting healthy habits like eating a balanced diet, staying physically active, and avoiding smoking or excessive drinking can help reduce your risk of developing cataracts.

The Different Types of Cataracts

While all cataracts can lead to blindness and are generally treated with the same surgical procedure, you might be surprised to learn that there are different types of cataracts. Cataracts are generally classified based on where they form and at what age. There are currently five types of cataracts that eye doctors see most commonly:

• Nuclear Cataracts: Cataracts that form in the center of the lens and impact both near and far vision. 

• Cortical Cataracts: Cataracts that form on the side of the lens and block central vision. 

• Posterior Subcapsular Cataracts: Cataracts that form at the back of the lens and quickly impact vision in those with diabetic eye conditions. 

• Congenital Cataracts: Cataracts that affect children and can impact a child’s visual development. 

• Secondary Cataracts: Complications associated with cataract surgery that have similar symptoms to cataracts. 

For more information on the different types of cataracts, how they form, and what symptoms to look out for, check out our comprehensive guide to cataract types.

When to Consult an Eye Doctor About Cataracts

If you’ve been told that you’re developing cataracts, you may be wondering when it’s time to seek treatment. The need for treatment often depends on how much the cataracts affect your daily life. For instance, if you have a small cortical cataract that isn’t blocking your vision and you aren’t experiencing glare issues, it may be best to monitor the situation and wait.

However, there are specific symptoms that may signal it’s time to consult with an eye care professional about cataract treatment:

• Glare or halos around lights 

• Trouble seeing in dim or low-light settings 

• Difficulty with night driving 

• Shadowing of your vision 

• Seeing color in a yellowish hue or as extremely faded 

• Poor color vision 

If you’re noticing any of these symptoms, it’s a good idea to contact eyecarecenter and schedule a cataract consultation appointment.

How Are Cataracts Treated?

Once a cataract has fully developed, the only effective treatment is cataract surgery. During the procedure, your surgeon will make a small incision where the clear cornea meets the white of the eye. A probe will be used to break up the cloudy lens, which is then suctioned out. An artificial lens is then inserted through the same incision to replace your natural lens and restore focus. The incision is self-sealing, so no stitches are necessary, and the healing process begins right away. Only a few eye drops are used during recovery.

The surgery typically takes no more than 10 minutes. If cataracts are present in both eyes, surgeries are usually done one at a time, with a few weeks in between to ensure proper healing. Recovery times vary, but most patients can return to their regular activities within a day or two. To learn more about cataract surgery and other treatment options, visit our Cataract Treatment page.

How to Slow Cataract Development

While age-related cataracts are inevitable, adopting eye-healthy habits can delay their onset and slow their progression. The goal is to protect your eyes from oxidative stress, the "wear and tear" that leads to cloudiness in the lens over time. Start with these practices, and feel free to discuss additional options with your eye care professional.

1. Wear UV-Blocking Sunglasses: Ultraviolet light accelerates lens damage. By wearing full-spectrum sunglasses, you can decrease exposure to UV rays and potentially delay cataract formation. 

2. Quit Smoking: Smokers are two to three times more likely to develop cataracts because tobacco toxins create free radicals that cloud the lens. 

3. Follow an Antioxidant-Rich Diet: Load your plate with spinach, kale, citrus fruit, berries, carrots, and fish. Vitamins C and E, lutein, and zeaxanthin neutralize oxidative stress inside the eye. 

4. Keep Your Blood Sugar in Check: Uncontrolled diabetes causes sugar molecules to bind to the lens proteins, speeding up clouding. Good glucose control can postpone surgery and slow cataract development. 

5. Use Protective Eyewear: A serious eye injury can trigger traumatic cataracts, a clouding of the lens caused by foreign objects coming in contact with the eye. Wear safety glasses during sports, yard work, or any high-risk task to reduce your exposure.