Cataracts are the number one cause of blindness worldwide, largely affecting older patients, although people who are in their forties and fifties can also develop cataracts. Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide, accounting for half of the world’s 40 million blind. About 5 million new cases of cataract blindness occur each year.*
A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye. For people who have cataracts, seeing through cloudy lenses is a bit like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. Clouded vision caused by cataracts can make it more difficult to read, drive a car (especially at night) or see the expression on a friend’s face. If left untreated, cataracts can eventually cause blindness.
Cataract Causes and Risk Factors
Some of the common causes and risk factors for developing cataracts include:
- Aging
- Excessive sunlight exposure
- Previous eye injuries or inflammation
- Using corticosteroids for a long time
- Having conditions like diabetes
- Being obese
- Having high blood pressure
- Drinking alcohol excessively
- Being a smoker
How to Detect Cataracts
Detecting cataracts as soon as possible is key to preserving your vision. Some of the symptoms to look out for include:
- Clouded, blurred or dim vision
- Increasing difficulty with vision at night
- Sensitivity to light and glare
- Need for brighter light for reading and other activities
- Seeing “halos” around lights
- Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescription
- Fading or yellowing of colors
- Double vision in a single eye
All these symptoms could be signs of other eye conditions, so it’s important to visit your eye doctor for an accurate diagnosis if you have any of these symptoms. If you are experiencing any of these symptoms or have general questions about your cataract risk factors, please schedule an appointment today with our experienced team of professionals!
SOURCE: “Cataracts – Overview” Mayo Clinic, 13 June 2022, www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cataracts/symptoms-causes/syc-20353790
*Isaacs, Robert, Ram, Jagat, & Apple, David.”Cataract Blindness in the Developing World: is there a solution?” PubMed, pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19785217.