Cataracts are Common But Very Treatable

Cataracts Are Common but Very Treatable

In adults over the age of 55, cataracts are the number one cause of vision loss. <a href=http://www.lasikdocs.com/cataracts.html>Cataracts </a>are also the number one cause of blindness globally. It is estimated that 50% of the global population will have a cataract by the age of 65, and almost all of us will have a cataract by the age of 75. However, there is light at the end of the cataract tunnel: they are very treatable if caught early, and many people are having their vision restored by cataract surgery.

That’s the bad news. The good news is that cataracts are very treatable, and more people are having their vision restored by cataract surgery than ever before.

Cataracts Defined and Causes

A cataract is a clouding of the lens inside the eye. It is not a film over the lens but a gradual thickening of the lens. If left untreated, cataracts can eventually cause blindness.

Some of the more common causes of cataracts include:

• Aging
• Certain diseases like diabetes and hypothyroidism
• Corticosteroids
• Smoking and alcohol consumption have been lined to

Chronic inflammation, some types of glaucoma, and extreme nearsightedness can also cause cataracts. Cataracts are not caused by overuse of the eyes and cannot spread from one eye to the other, but one can develop cataracts in both eyes.

Symptoms of Cataract Development

· Blurry or dim vision

· Faded color perception

· Halos around lights

· Sensitivity to bright lights

· Poor night vision

Cataracts related to the aging process develop slowly and painlessly. The first indication of a problem is usually at a routine trip to the eye doctor for new a glasses or contact lens prescription. Stronger eyeglasses may help relieve early stages of symptoms in cataract development, but surgery is the only cure and also the most common form of treatment. Millions of people undergo vision-saving cataract surgery each year. Surgical removal of the clouded lens is the only avenue to restored vision.

If you live in the San Francisco including Oakland and San Jose, California area, please visit the website of<a href=http://www.lasikdocs.com/about-us.htm> Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley to learn more about cataract and cataract surgery.</a>

About the Author

If you live in the San Francisco including Oakland and San Jose, California area, please visit the website of Laser Eye Center of Silicon Valley to learn more about cataract and cataract surgery.

Eye on the Bay LASIK part II