Cataracts are the fogginess of the lenses that develop with age. In this condition, the lenses appear misty, resulting in indistinct vision that finally ends up in blindness if not treated early.
Even though cataracts increase as we age, there are many other reasons, such as health conditions, unhealthy lifestyle, or genetic eye-related conditions.
In this blog, let us explore how cataracts develop with age: what you should know.
Table of Contents
What Is a Cataract?
Cataract is a milky space around the eye’s lens. The lenses are clear and adjustable portions that contain proteins. As we age, these proteins start to move apart, making cloudy patches around these lenses and finally, causing loss of eyesight.
In cataracts, things appear unclear and cause damage to your vision. It impacts the quality of your life. Eye specialists at Dr Agarwal’s effectively treat cataracts at a reasonable cost.
If you are struggling with cataracts, don’t be tense. Ophthalmologists perform operations and help you regain your eyesight.
How Do Cataracts Develop With Age?
Lenses are located towards the dorsal end of your eyes (iris), which allows the light to fall on your eyes. Iris forms a clear and sharper image on the rear portion of your eyes (retina).
But, due to aging, the lens breaks these proteins and fibers, making lenses less flexible. This protein gets deposited in a place, causing cloudy lenses.
With the development of cataract, the clouding becomes thick and damages your vision. Fogging spreads throughout your eyes and prevents light from entering your eyes. This obstructs the formation of clear images and stops it from reaching your retina, leading to unclear vision.
It can damage both of your eyes, but not simultaneously. The cataract in one of your eyes becomes worse, causing a difference in vision.
Symptoms Of Cataracts That Develop With Age:
- The things appear blurred due to clouding, resulting in poor eyesight.
- You are unable to see things clearly at night.
- Eyes become vulnerable to focusing on the light that causes glare
- You feel like changing lenses more frequently.
- You may require brighter light to read or to perform other activities, even in the morning.
- Halos may be formed around lights.
- Colours might become faded or light yellow.
- You might see a double image in one of your eyes, leading to differences in viewing.
How To Treat Cataracts?
Surgery is the most preferred method to cure cataracts and correct your vision. Ophthalmologists take out these clouded lenses and replace them with an artificial lens (IOL or intraocular lens) that remains forever.
How To Prevent Cataracts?
Follow the below-mentioned prevention methods to control cataracts.
- Wear a hat and sunglasses while spending time outdoors in order to save yourself from the harmful rays of the Sun.
- Be careful while working with power machinery or while playing sports. Wear eyeglasses to avoid injuries to the eyes.
- Quit bad habits, including smoking. Introduce a healthy lifestyle and diet, like using lots of fruits and vegetables, green leafy veggies, sprouts, nuts, and whole grains in your food habits.
Conclusion:
Cataracts are the most common cause of blindness. Cataracts generally develop as we age, and if left untreated, they will pose a severe threat to our eyes.
Cataract is caused when the natural proteins present in the eyes start breaking down with age. The proteins get deposited and cloud your eye lens. Generally, the lens concentrates on the light that falls on the retina, but during cataract, the lens shifts the focus of light and makes it scatter through the clustered proteins.
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