Keep an eye on cataracts

Bonner General Ophthalmology Clinic answers your eye health concerns

A cataract is the clouding of the usually clear lens of the eye. The symptoms typically come on slowly. So gradually, you might not realize how much your vision is deteriorating.

You might have difficulty seeing to drive at night. Oncoming lights may have a halo, or their glare may make you squint. You may find yourself complaining that you can’t see out of your prescription lenses. And, you might notice colors fading or yellowing.

I always tell the story about giving the eulogy at a good friend’s funeral, wearing a lovely pair of black slacks, black shoes, and navy-blue socks! Other colors were hard for me to distinguish, as well.

There are five types of cataracts. The National Eye Institute explains that “as you age, a cataract can develop because of natural changes in the lens of your eye. This is called an age-related cataract, and it’s the most common type of cataract.”

It’s estimated that half of all Americans will have cataracts by age 75. The American Academy of Ophthalmology found that cataract surgeries can lead to a 16 percent decrease in the odds of hip fracture and a 13 percent decrease in the odds of experiencing a car accident. Cataract surgery has a success rate of around 90 percent.

Family history plays a big part in your risk. Still, it so does smoking, drinking too much alcohol, having diabetes, taking steroids for an extended period, and having had certain eye surgeries such as those for glaucoma.

Trau-matic cataracts occur when you’ve had a severe eye injury that damaged the lens, and radiation cataracts are caused by radiation in the form of cancer treatment or ultraviolet rays from the sun.

“Children can get cataracts, too,” NEI says. “They can be born with cataracts or develop them later on. Cataracts in children are rare, and they’re usually genetic. They can happen because of serious complications during pregnancy or because of illnesses during childhood. Children can also get cataracts for the same reasons as adults — eye injuries, radiation, or steroid medications.”

The fifth type is called posterior capsule opacification, which are big words for what’s commonly called a secondary cataract. After cataract surgery, some people develop a secondary cataract that makes their vision cloudy again. Laser treatment in the doctor’s office will fix it.

Mayo Clinic states there are minimal studies to prove cataract prevention is possible. They do recommend people having regular eye examinations, quit smoking, manage other health issues, choose a diet that includes lots of fruits and vegetables, wear sunglasses and reduce alcohol consumption to aid in the prevention.

Not all cataracts are created equal. Some start at the center of the lens, initially causing nearsightedness or even improvement in your reading vision.

“But with time, the lens gradually turns more densely yellow and further clouds your vision,” Mayo says. “As the cataract slowly progresses, the lens may even turn brown.” That’s when you can’t tell your blue socks from the black ones.

Cataracts can affect the edges of the lens, which, as it develops, interferes with light passing through the center of the lens. And, cataracts in the back of the lens typically progress faster and are guilty of causing a reduction in vision in bright light and causes that glare and those halos we talked about earlier.

Most likely, at some point, you’ll ask your eye care professional whether or not you’re a candidate for surgery. My ophthalmologist said that I would know when to ask for it. I knew it was time when I couldn’t see a menu on the wall of a restaurant.

With a trip planned I thought that the last thing I would want to do was to see the world and not see where I was going.

Cataract surgery is quite simple. The old lens is removed and replaced with a new one. The operation is standard, painless, and, for the most part, complication-free. There are roughly 3.6 million cataract surgeries performed each year.

If you suspect you have a cataract (or two), or for any other eye health concerns you should call 208-265-1011 to make an appointment at Bonner General Ophthalmology Clinic.

Kathy Hubbard is a member of Bonner General Health Foundation Advisory Council. She can be reached at kathyleehubbard@yahoo.com.