By the age of 80, you have a 50 percent chance of developing cataracts. If you are unaware of how cataracts can affect your vision, it is when your lens that is normally clear becomes clouded. Cataracts cause blurry vision, making it difficult to complete your daily activities. If left untreated, cataracts can lead to blindness. Those are the basics facts about cataracts, but what are some facts you haven’t heard before? Don’t worry – we’ve got you covered. Here are 4 facts that you probably didn’t know about cataracts.
Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in the world today
Currently, cataracts affect more than 22 million people in the United States that are above the age of 40. As you age, your chances of developing cataracts continue to rise, with no known way to prevent their formation. Worldwide, there are more cases of cataracts than there are cases of macular degeneration, glaucoma, and diabetic retinopathy combined – according to Prevent Blindness America (PBA). It is important to get your eyes examined regularly to catch the early signs of cataracts.
There are several symptoms of cataracts
When you first start developing cataracts, they may only affect a small portion of your lens, making you unaware of the vision loss that you are incurring. As the cataract increases in size, your vision impairment will become more noticeable and may result in side effects such as:
• The blurring of vision.
• Glare, or sensitivity to light.
• Double vision in one eye.
• Frequent changes in eyeglass prescription.
• Difficulty in reading in low light.
• Declining night vision.
• Fading or yellowing of colors.
If you are experiencing any of the symptoms listed above, it is important to take the first step and schedule an appointment for an eye exam.
Surgery is the only proven treatment method for cataracts
As of right now the only way to treat cataracts is through surgery. During this procedure, your natural, cloudy lens will be removed and replaced with an artificial, clear lens. The good news with this is that cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure which means that you won’t need to have any overnight stays. After surgery, you will be in a recovery area for around 30 minutes and then you will be able to return home the same day.
Cataracts surgery is extremely effective
Although surgery is currently the only option to treat your cataracts, it was reported by the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery (ASCRS) that the overall success rate of this procedure is 98 percent with over 3 million people undergoing this procedure every year. Cataract surgery is one of the most common procedures performed in the United States, as well as one of the most effective and safest procedures in the world.
Minnesota Eye Consultants offers a wide range of cataract surgery options including advanced technology and a wide array of IOL options. Contact us today for all of your cataract treatment needs.
