The lens inside an eye is normally clear and serves to focus images on the retina. If the lens becomes cloudy or is opacified it is called a cataract. When cataract starts to develop, patients generally experience blurred vision, glare or halo around images, and occasionally double vision. Adult cataract is generally associated with aging.  It usually develops slowly and painlessly after age 60. About 50 percent of Americans ages 65 to 74 have some degree of cataract and about 70 percent of those age 75 and over have it.

Many factors contribute to the development of cataract, including excessive UV light exposure, trauma, irradiation, diabetes, long-term use of corticosteroids, and other inflammatory and metabolic diseases. It is not known whether nutrition or antioxidants plays an role on the development of cataract or not.  However, keep a balanced diet and exercise is always a good thing to do.  Wearing sunglasses when you are outside can reduce the amount of UV light your eyes are exposed to. Control blood glucose level if you have diabetes.  Many diabetic patients do develop cataract at an earlier age. If you have to use corticosteroids(prednisone pills or inhaler for asthma) for a long time, it is advisable to see your ophthalmologist regularly for possible side effect of cataract or glaucoma.

Cataract can also be present at birth.  They are called congenital cataract.  They may be familial or may be caused by congenital infections such as rubella, or associated with metabolic disorders such as galactosemia. They consist of less than 1 percent of cataracts that we see at Lubbock Eye Clinic.

The only treatment of cataract is surgery. There is no eye drop available proven to be effective in either prevention or treatment of cataract.  Fortunately cataract surgery is one of the most successful surgery performed in US.  The complication rate is below 1 percent in an experienced surgeon.  Most people enjoy excellent vision close to 20/20 after surgery provided that their retina is in good condition.  Patients with diabetes, macular degeneration, or other retinal diseases may not recover that vision after cataract surgery.

At Lubbock Eye Clinic, we use state-of-the-art small incision technique called phacoemulsification that is safer and the recovery time is much shortened.  If you have visual symptoms described above, please make an appointment and discuss with our doctors. Our doctors will give you their honest opinion on all the pros and cons and the best timing to perform the surgery.