Explaining Cataracts: A Simple Guide to this Vision Problem

First, let me explain what a cataract is not. A cataract is not a growth in the sense that most people understand it. It does not get ripe. The ophthalmologist is not going to decide you should have surgery without some input from you. We can't predict 100 percent what your vision is by simply looking at your cataract.Some look pretty bad but the patient actually has good vision. On the other hand, some cataracts look like they really should not be causing problems when in fact the vision is bad. Assuming you have healthy eyes and were not born with a congenital defect or have not had serious eye injuries, it is simply the lens in your eye that you were born with.The natural lens is made up of tissue basically similar to hair and skin. Just as your hair and skin ages and turns gray or wrinkles, your lens changes with age. The change is a discoloration or opacity that causes the lens to get cloudier and more difficult to see through. It is not a growth but rather a natural change in the material that makes up the lens. Just as with hair or skin, this can occur at different ages in different people. Some young people can have cataracts, just like some people prematurely gray.
When is it time to remove your cataract? It needs to be removed when you feel it is affecting your vision and lifestyle and glasses cannot make you see well. It is not "ready" just because it is "ripe" or some doctor says it is ready. If someone tells you to have surgery and you don't feel your vision is that bad, it won't hurt to get a second opinion. If you have a cataract, you will have some complaint about your vision. Remember that a cataract is a normal aging process and you do not need surgery just because you have a cataract. Also, a cataract will not destroy your eye if you don't have surgery immediately. Surgery is an elective procedure and you should decide with help from your ophthalmologist when it is time. If you wait to have your cataract removed, your vision will probably get worse with time. Sometimes your vision doesn't get worse. No one can predict how fast your vision will get worse. Understand however, that the worsening vision is reversible in 99% of people once you get around to having surgery and the cataract is finally removed. Don't rush into surgery because of fear or misconceptions. Ask questions and if you don't get satisfactory answers then I repeat get a second opinion.In future articles, I will talk about the surgery for them. You can also go to my website and find more information about cataracts and your eyes.I am a Board Certified Ophthalmologist who has been in practice for 30 years. You are welcome to visit my website. If you have any problems finding what you are looking for, please use my Site Search.

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