Cataracts are a problem.
Worldwide, 17% of people have them. In the United States, almost 1 in 5 people ages 65-74 have cataracts that affect their vision, and a whopping 50% of those 80 and over have cataracts or have had surgery to remove them.
This last statistic raises a question: Is surgery inevitable once you develop cataracts?
At Berkeley Heights Eye Group, our team specializes in diagnosing and treating cataracts. Here’s what we typically tell our patients: Surgery is the only permanent solution for cataracts, but we can often manage them for a long time without surgery.
The lens of your eye is a clear structure composed mainly of proteins. As you age, usually beginning around age 40, these proteins start to break down, resulting in cloudy patches in your lens. We call these cloudy areas cataracts.
Even though they begin forming much earlier, you may not notice symptoms until age 60 or so. Those symptoms include:
Eventually, others will notice cataracts in your eyes; they appear white, gray, cloudy, or dusty.
In the early stages of development, cataracts are usually manageable with a few lifestyle changes.
For example, wear anti-glare sunglasses to help your night vision and when you face bright lights. Wearing sunglasses anytime you’re outside also helps protect your eyes and slows the progression of cataracts.
Additional steps include installing brighter lights in your home and adding more greens to your diet. If you wear contacts or glasses, you may need to update your prescription.
Once your symptoms progress to the point where these methods don’t provide much relief, it’s time to consider surgery.
The concept behind cataract surgery is simple: replace the cloudy lens in your eye with a new one. This artificial lens, also known as an intraocular lens (IOL), becomes a permanent part of your eye, giving you clarity of vision once again.
The new lens can also help correct your vision, allowing you to rely less on glasses or contacts.
Cataract surgery has been around for many years and is considered effective and safe. The surgery’s success rate is about 90%.
If you’re worried you have cataracts or are ready to discuss treating them, Berkeley Heights Eye Group is ready and waiting to guide you. To schedule an appointment, call our office in New Providence, New Jersey, today or use our convenient online scheduler.
