Glare

Cataracts: Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

December 16, 2011 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens inside the eye. That crystal clear lens slowly clouds over time as part of the natural aging process. We should all be so lucky to develop cataracts in our lifetime, as this would mean we have lived a long and healthy life.

Cataracts will gradually worsen over time and will eventually interfere with normal vision. This can make every day tasks, like driving (especially at night) and reading, incredibly difficult.

Causes of Cataracts

There are several causes of cataracts. They develop primarily because of normal aging, but also due to eye injuries and genetic disorders. These varying causes lead to different types of cataracts, which include:

• Nuclear Cataracts: This refers to cataracts that affect the center of the eyes lens.

• Cortical Cataracts: This refers to cataracts that affect the edges of the lens.

• Posterior Subcapsular Cataracts: This refers to cataracts that affect the back of the lens.

• Congenital Cataracts: This refers to cataracts you were born with.

For additional information on any specific form of cataracts, consult your eye doctor.

Signs and Symptoms of Cataracts

• Blurred or blurry vision

• Yellowing or clouding of the lens

• Difficulty with night vision

• Sensitivity to light and glare

• Seeing “halos” around lights

• Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescription

• Fading or yellowing of colors

• Double vision in a single eye

If you feel you may be experiencing any of the above symptoms, schedule an appointment with your eye doctor as soon as possible. Any sudden change in your vision is a serious medical condition that requires prompt medical attention from your optometrist or ophthalmologist.

Cataracts Treatment

While better lighting and stronger eyeglasses can help you deal with cataracts in the short term, cataract surgery is the only truly effective treatment option available.

Cataract surgery involves removing the clouded lens and replacing it with a new artificial lens. The procedure is fairly safe, but carries a risk of infection and bleeding. Surgery also increases the risk of retinal detachment.

However, if your cataracts begin to affect your quality of life, inhibiting you from performing normal daily tasks, cataract surgery is usually the best choice for trying to regain your sight. So if you feel it may be time to consider cataract surgery, contact your eye doctor to discuss your options. You can also turn to Anne Arundel Eye Center for additional information.

If you have any questions about what you have just read or if you would like to learn more about cataracts, please contact board certified ophthalmologist Samuel Boles and the eye care specialists at Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here to visit AnneArundelEyeCenter.com today!

Led by Dr. Boles, the Anne Arundel Eye Center offers comprehensive specialized ophthalmic exams as well as diagnostic pre and post-surgical eye care. Specializing in glaucoma and cataracts, Dr. Boles has helped restore and preserve thousands of patients’ vision.

For more eye care advice and information, please take a look at our previous blog posts.

You can also follow Anne Arundel Eye Center on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube as well!

Sources:

Cataract MedicinePlus

Cataracts MayoClinic.com

Education on Glaucoma and Cataracts Detection and Treatment

July 7, 2011 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

More than 3 million Americans have glaucoma, yet half are unaware that they have it, while cataracts, the leading cause of visual loss in people 65 and older, will affect half of adults by age 80. These are two very different diseases that have one big thing in common; they are both treatable if caught early.

Glaucoma

Glaucoma refers to a group of diseases that can affect your sight without warning and, if left untreated, can lead to blindness.

Everyone is at risk for glaucoma, however, certain factors may increase this risk including: if you are over 60 years of age, if you are African American, if you have high myopia (nearsightedness), diabetes, hypertension, or if you are a steroid user.

The bad news is that there is currently no cure for glaucoma. The good news is that early detection and treatment (medication and surgery) have been proven to slow down or even prevent further vision loss due to glaucoma, which is why regular eye exams are so important.

Cataracts

A cataract, or clouding of the eye’s natural lens, is a disease usually brought on by age – affecting half of adults by age 80. After years of natural wear and tear, the lens becomes clouded, much like a clear plastic window on a convertible car that turns yellow after years of exposure to sun and weather.

Cataracts symptoms include: blurry sight and sometimes double vision; halos and glare—the eyes become dazzled by bright light, making night driving difficult; colors may become faded; and frequent changes in glasses prescription.

Whether you are experiencing symptoms of cataracts or you fear you may have glaucoma, the earlier you are diagnosed by a certified ophthalmologist, the more a doctor will be able to help you without major intervention/surgery. If you feel you may be at risk, schedule an eye appointment right away.

At Anne Arundel Eye Center, a state-of-the-art treatment center offering complete ophthalmic exams as well as diagnostic surgical eye care, the staff works to not only treat you, the patient, but also educate you about your diagnosis.

“When you give people that knowledge and power, it gives them the ability to take part in their care,” Dr. Samuel Boles told What’s Up Magazine “Patients are more likely to comply with their therapy if they know what you’re asking them to do and why you’re asking them to do it. It’s important to me to help my patients understand the importance of taking care of themselves.”

Anne Arundel Eye Center is dedicated to making the best eye care accessible to everyone. If you have any questions, contact Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here today!

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National Cataract Awareness Month

June 27, 2011 by Anne Arundel Eye Center

Did you know that June is Cataract Awareness Month? What better time than now to learn about cataracts: whom they affect, their symptoms, and how they are treated.

Nearly half of all adults will develop cataracts by age 80. The older we get, the more natural wear and tear our eyes suffer, resulting in clouding of the eye’s natural lens, known as cataracts.

“I like to compare it to the clear plastic window on a convertible car,” said board certified ophthalmologist Samuel Boles, M.D. “After years of exposure to sun and weather, the plastic becomes yellow and cloudy.”

But there is no need to worry, cataracts are very treatable and can be detected long before the lens becomes cloudy. Early symptoms of cataracts include: blurry sight, double vision, halos, glare – the eyes becomes dazzled by bright light, difficulty driving at night, and frequently changing your glasses prescriptions.

If you feel as if you may be suffering from one or more of these symptoms, you should schedule an eye exam at your earliest convenience. Early detection is the key to slowing or even stopping the spread of cataracts.

If these symptoms persist, however, and become bothersome, surgery may be your best option. Cataract surgery involves removing the damaged lens and replacing it with a new synthetic one. Cataract surgery is a quick outpatient procedure that takes about 10 minutes (not including pre and post-op preparation) and has the highest success rate of any surgery practiced today. Most patients can resume their normal, everyday function in very little time and can even drive a few days after surgery.

So what are you waiting for? Schedule an eye exam today. Many eye conditions, including cataracts,that can become problematic are easily diagnosable and treatable with regular eye exams.

If you have any questions, contact Anne Arundel Eye Center by calling 410-224-2010 or click here today!

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