Is it Cadillac’s or is it Cataracts ?

Cataracts are clouding of the lens inside our eyes and it is the leading cause of vision loss in the United States. It hinders the light to pass through to the back of our eyes. Imagine your windshield is dirty and/or foggy, no matter how bright the day is or your headlights are, you will not be able to see clearly through that “cloudy” windshield

Good news? Cataracts are painless. Bad news? It is painless. You will not know the status of your cataracts until it is affecting your vision.  Knowing your body’s health status allows you to prevent conditions before it gets too serious.

Cataracts can happen at any age, but usually occur in older populations.  I tell my patients “Everyone WILL get cataracts. But not everyone will need cataract surgery.” Aging and genetics we can not control (at this moment), but there are other external factors that we can control.

Here is a list of few controllable risk factors that can cause cataracts to happen faster:

1. Prolonged UV exposure
2. Poor health control
3. Smoking
4. Poor Diet
5. Prolonged steroid use
6. Injury to the eyes

Currently, the only way to treat vision-affecting cataracts is to surgically remove the cloudy lens and replace it with a clear lens. This is a very effective and safe procedure and usually takes less than 30 minutes. 

Regular visits to your local eye doctor not only keeps you updated about your cataracts, but also other easily preventable eye conditions. As I mentioned time and time again…it is always easier to prevent than to fix. Schedule your next eye appointment with us here or call us at 301-238-7199.