WHAT ARE CATARACTS?

A cataract is a cloudy lens in your eye. It is like having a dirty windshield on your car. Even if you change your glasses, your vision is still going to be blurred until you wash your windshield. Cataracts develop gradually, clouding the eye’ s natural lens and eventually leading to vision loss. They’ re one of the most common age-related eye conditions, often going unnoticed until everyday activities like reading, driving at night, or distinguishing colors become more difficult. Cataracts are painless, but they can have a profoundly negative impact on vision thereby significantly reducing your quality of life. The good new is that cataracts are treatable vision problem.

THE SYMPTOMS OF CATARACTS CAN MANIFEST IN VARIOUS WAYS:

• BLURRY VISION: The American Academy of Ophthalmology notes that blurriness may be associated with an assortment of vision problems, including cataracts. Blurry vision makes it difficult to see clearly or sharply, and cataracts are characterized by cloudiness that affects the natural lens of the eye. The blurriness associated with cataracts is the result of a breakdown of proteins in the lens of the affected eye, according to the AAO.

• SEEING DOUBLE: Double vision also is symptomatic of various vision issues, including cataracts. The AAO notes that when a person is seeing double, he or she may be seeing two, often overlapping, images of a single object.

• SENSITIVITY TO LIGHT: The AAO notes a need to shield eyes from light to prevent eye pain could indicate a sensitivity to light that is characteristic of cataracts. This sensitivity may be especially noticeable when confronted by oncoming headlights at night.

• DIFFICULTY SEEING AT NIGHT: The AAO reports that this symptom is often characterized by difficulty seeing in dark conditions that can make it harder to adjust to seeing when going from a well-lit space into darkness. That adjustment also may take longer in people experiencing cataracts. Some people may not be able to see at all in dimly lit conditions.

• SEEING FADED COLORS: Bright colors that appear faded or yellow is another symptom of cataracts.

WHAT IS SOMETHING MOST PEOPLE DON’ T KNOW ABOUT CATARACTS?

Almost everyone will eventually develop cataracts. It’ s really not a question of if you will get a cataract, but when. Studies show by age 65, over 90 % of people in the U. S. have cataracts.

Did you know that more than 25 million Americans are currently affected by cataracts? That number is expected to rise to 38.5 million by 2032 and 45.6 million by 2050.

Also, cataract surgery is probably covered by your medical insurance, and regardless of whether you have cataracts in their infancy or they are very developed.

HOW DO I KNOW WHEN I NEED SURGERY TO CORRECT CATARACTS? It’ s really a personal choice. Many patients in their early 50’ s who are ready to get out of their contacts and glasses have cataract surgery. With the amazing safety and efficacy of lens extractions, patients now are electing to proceed with cataract surgery much earlier than in the past. For others, they want to wait until their cataracts are interfering with their normal daily living, such as their ability to read or drive.

IS CATARACT SURGERY SAFE? IS IT EFFECTIVE? Cataract surgery is the most commonly performed surgery in the U. S. It’ s an outpatient procedure, and literally only takes a few minutes to complete in the hands of a skilled cataract surgeon. When utilizing cutting edge technology, both safety and efficacy exceed 99 % in most clinical studies.

Pick a surgeon who is proven and pick a center that has invested in the state-of-the-art technology. Eyesight is a precious thing, and you want to make sure you are putting your trust in the right team.

EAR, NOSE & THROAT HEALTH ISSUE | AUGUST 2025 7 OURHEALTHNWA. COM