What Are Cataracts And Cow Did I Get Them?

If you suspect you have cataracts, or even if you've already been diagnosed

, you've probably got a lot of questions. What are cataracts? How do they affect me? How could I or did I get them? What can be done if I have them? These are all good questions for the cataract sufferer and here are some brief, simple answers.

What are Cataracts? Cataracts are pretty much defined as a clouding that occurs on the lens of the eye. The lens is the section of the eye which is right behind the pupil and the iris that works as a focusing area. Light and images enter the lens through the pupil and that's where the image focuses before sending the information to the retina. In a normal eye, the lens is clear and focusing is easy. When cataracts are developed, the lens becomes progressively cloudier, until it becomes completely opaque and blindness occurs.

Cataracts are categorized by how they form. A subcapsular cataract begins at the back of the lens. A nuclear cataract forms at the center of the lens and spreads outward. A cortical cataract forms at the outside of the lens and spreads toward the center.

What do cataracts do? It depends on how long the cataract has been there and what kind it is. As the cataract is developing, you may not even notice it. But as it grows, it will appear as a cloudiness that begins growing. Images you see will not be as sharp. A brownish color will seem to overtake everything. Lights may seem brighter than before, but colors will not be as vivid. And contrast levels do not seem as strong as they were.

What causes cataracts? The predominant cause of cataracts is aging. The lens of the eye is mainly made up of water and proteins, and over time the proteins will clump together and become cataracts. Aging causes this process to occur, but other physical issues can speed up the process and people with diabetes or hypertension are at a higher risk of developing cataracts. People with a prolonged exposure to ultraviolet light or infrared radiation have an increased risk, as well as those with certain allergies or an iodine deficiency.

How can cataracts be treated? Cataract surgery is the primary method of removing the vision obstructions that develop within the lens of the eye.

In the early stages of cataracts, surgery may not be required. Using brighter lights, stronger bifocals, magnifying lenses, or anti-glare sunglasses will counteract the adverse affects of the developing lens clouding. Once the cataracts have begun to affect everyday activities such as driving, working or watching TV, an optometrist should be consulted and the decision made as to when to perform cataract surgery. The surgery is a basic procedure where the patient's lens, which contains the cataracts, is removed and replaced by a new lens, untainted by protein lumps.

If you think you are having symptoms of cataracts, or if you are at high risk for getting them, contact your optometrist for testing and treatment.

by: Roger Ubik

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