Cataracts affect millions of people worldwide, yet many don’t fully understand what they are or how they develop. If you’ve been experiencing changes in your vision, like noticing that colors seem less vibrant or finding it harder to read even with your glasses, you might be dealing with cataracts.
The good news is that cataracts are highly treatable. By understanding the different types and their causes, you can better recognize the signs and take action to protect your vision.
What is a Cataract?
The natural lens of your eye is made up of proteins. A cataract forms when these proteins break down and then clump together, causing your lens to become cloudy.
Cataracts can form in one or both eyes and typically develop slowly. In almost all cases, cataract surgery is eventually necessary to regain clear vision.
What are the Symptoms of Cataracts?
Early on, you likely won’t notice any vision changes. But with time, more proteins can clump together and affect a larger area of your lens, causing symptoms such as:
- Blurry or cloudy vision
- Trouble seeing at night
- Colors appear muted or yellow
- Glare and halos
- Double vision in one eye
- Light sensitivity
- Changing glasses or contact lens prescriptions regularly
- Requiring bright lights when performing close tasks
Without treatment, cataracts can ultimately lead to vision loss.
What are the Different Types of Cataracts?
There are various types of cataracts, classified based on why they develop, including:
Age-Related Cataracts
The most common type of cataract is a result of aging. When you’re young, the natural lens of your eye is usually clear, which allows light to easily pass through to the retina, providing clear vision.
But with time, natural age-related changes occur within the lens, causing it to become cloudy, which can gradually impair your vision.
Certain factors can increase your risk of age-related cataracts, including:
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Previous eye surgery
- Drinking too much alcohol
- Family history of cataracts
- Certain medications such as steroids
Congenital Cataracts
Cataracts are not always a result of aging. Other types can develop at any age. Some babies are born with cataracts, and others develop cataracts in the first year of their lives.
These types of cataracts are known as congenital cataracts. Genetics accounts for about 50 percent of all congenital cataract cases.
They can also develop in babies who were born prematurely, have a family history of congenital cataracts, or had an infection before or right after birth.
Some congenital cataracts don’t interfere with vision, so they don’t need cataract surgery. However, if a baby’s vision is affected, the cataract is typically removed soon after diagnosis.
Traumatic Cataracts
A traumatic cataract occurs after penetrating, blunt, or chemical trauma. These injuries can damage the lens fibers, clouding your lens.
Radiation Cataracts
Radiation cataracts can develop due to excessive exposure to radiation, such as ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun. They can also be caused by radiation therapy for cancer.
See Clearly with Cataract Surgery
No matter the type of cataract you have, cataract surgery at Simone Eye Center is the only effective treatment that can eliminate cataracts permanently and help you regain clear vision. During this quick and safe procedure, your cataract surgeon will replace your natural lens that has become clouded with a cataract with a clear artificial lens known as an IOL or intraocular lens, which restores clear vision.
Do you suspect you have cataracts? Schedule your cataract screening appointment at Simone Eye Center in Warren or Macomb Township today to determine if you have cataracts and whether you need cataract surgery.
