Cataract affects which part of the body

Age-related cataracts may start to develop between ages 40 and Where you live. Recent studies have shown that people who live in high altitudes may be more at risk of having cataracts.

Too much sun exposure. People who spend more time in the sun, especially without eye protection, may have cataracts sooner. You may not notice any changes in your vision in the early stages of a cataract. Cataracts tend to grow slowly, so your eyesight will get worse slowly. Some types of cataracts can also cause your close-up vision to get better for a short time. The symptoms of cataracts may be like other eye conditions.

Talk with a healthcare provider for a diagnosis. To diagnose cataracts, your eye care provider will ask about your health history and give you an eye exam. You may also have tests such as:. Visual acuity test. The common eye chart test that measures vision ability at many distances.

Pupil dilation. The pupil is widened with eye drops to allow a close-up exam of the retina. You may have other tests to help your eye care provider learn more about the health of your eye. Treatment will depend on your symptoms, age, and general health. It will also depend on how severe the condition is.

In its early stages, vision loss caused by a cataract may be helped by using different eyeglasses, a magnifying glass, or stronger lighting. When these are no longer helpful, surgery is the only effective treatment. A cataract only needs to be removed when vision loss gets in the way of your daily activities.

These include driving, reading, or watching TV. You and your eye care provider can make that decision together. Cataract surgery is one of the most common surgeries in the U. It is also one of the safest and most effective. It is done by replacing the cloudy lens with a new lens. If you have cataracts in both eyes, they are not usually taken out at the same time.

Your eye care provider will need to do the surgery on each eye separately. Small incision cataract surgery phacoemulsification. This is the most common type of cataract surgery.

The surgeon makes a small cut incision on the edge of the cornea. The cornea is a clear, dome-shaped surface that covers the front of the eye. A tiny probe uses ultrasound waves to break up the cloudy center of the lens. The lens is then removed by suction through the same incision.

Extracapsular surgery. During this surgery, a larger incision is made on the edge of the cornea to remove the hard center of the lens in one piece. Are cataracts serious? Cataracts are the number one cause of blindness in the world. However, the good news is that surgery How will my doctor decide if I'm ready for cataract surgery?

James J. Salz, MD. It is not the doctor who knows when you are ready for cataract surgery. It develops slowly and eventually interferes with your vision. Pseudophakia is a term that describes having an artificial lens implanted in your eye. Here's what you need to know about this procedure. Having diabetes does increase your risk for eye problems, including cataracts. Learn about the numerous types of cataract surgery, what sets them apart, benefits, side effects, costs, preparation, and recovery.

Recovery from cataract surgery generally lasts a short period of time, and you can return to many normal daily activities. Cataract surgery is safe and effective, but there are some complications that can occur. The exact timeframe when you can safely exercise will be different for each person.

However, there are some general guidelines for how to ease back…. Nuclear sclerosis can occur as part of the aging process of your eyes. If it progresses to cataracts, you may need surgery. Health Conditions Discover Plan Connect.

Cloudy days. No more wild nights. The glare of bright lights. Halos everywhere? New glasses again. Living in a yellow submarine.

Double trouble. See your doctor. Read this next. Medically reviewed by University of Illinois.