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Cataracts As a Part of Aging
A cataract develops when the eye’s natural lens becomes cloudy. The natural lens sits behind the pupil. Together, the cornea (clear dome in the front of the eye) and the lens focus light onto the back of the eye.
When the lens becomes cloudy, the light is scattered instead of focused properly, causing blurry vision and glare. Most cataracts develop slowly with age, though certain conditions can cause cataracts at a younger age. At first, stronger glasses may help clear up blurriness from cataracts. However, at a certain point, the vision cannot be fixed with glasses. If a person is having significant visual problems from cataracts, surgery can be performed to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with a clear lens implant. There are several types of lens implants and the options will be discussed before surgery. Cataract surgery is a fast and safe outpatient procedure performed under local anesthesia. Most people have a short recovery time and there are few restrictions after surgery. ~
Editor’s Note: This article was submitted by Mansi Parikh, M.D.Glaucoma Specialist & Surgeon at the Eye Care Center of Northern Colorado and may be reached at 303-772-3300. See ad below.
