Cataracts

• Cataracts may not present any symptoms in the early stages, but as the lens of the eye becomes increasingly cloudy, the patient may experience:
• Blurred vision
• Poor night vision
• Increased need of light for reading and other activities
• Light scattering
• Sensitivity to bright light
• Frequent prescription changes; increased near-sightedness
• Colors become distorted; images may seem faded or yellowish
• Double vision

• Most cataracts develop when aging or injury changes the tissue that makes up the eye's lens. Proteins and fibers in the lens begin to break down. This causes vision to become hazy or cloudy.
• Some disorders passed down from parents that cause other health problems can increase your risk of cataracts. Cataracts also can be caused by other eye conditions, past eye surgery or medical conditions such as diabetes. Long-term use of steroid medicines also may cause cataracts to develop.

Factors that increase your risk of cataracts include:
• Increasing age.
• Diabetes.
• Getting too much sunlight.
• Smoking.
• Obesity.
• Family history of cataracts.
• Previous eye injury or inflammation.
• Previous eye surgery.
• Prolonged use of corticosteroid medicines.
• Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol.

To determine whether you have a cataract, your eye doctor will review your medical history and symptoms. They also will perform an eye exam. Your doctor may do several tests, including:
Vision test :

A vision test, also called a visual acuity test, uses an eye chart to measure how well you can read a series of letters. One eye is tested at a time, while the other eye is covered. A chart or a viewing device with letters that get smaller is used. With this, your eye doctor determines if you have 20/20 vision or if you have trouble seeing.

Eye structure exam:

An eye structure exam, also called a slit lamp, allows your eye doctor to see the structures at the front of your eye up close. It's called a slit lamp because it uses an intense line of light, a slit, to light up the structures in your eye. The slit allows your doctor to view these structures in small sections. This makes it easier to find anything that may be wrong.

Retinal exam :

A retinal exam looks at the back of your eyes, called the retina. To prepare for a retinal exam, your eye doctor puts drops in your eyes to open your pupils wide, called dilation. This makes it easier to see the retina. Using a slit lamp or a special device called an ophthalmoscope, your eye doctor can examine your lens for signs of a cataract.

Fluid pressure test:

This test, also called applanation tonometry, measures fluid pressure in your eye. There are multiple different devices available to do this.

Cataracts can be treated by surgically removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with a clear artificial lens. The most common surgical method is called phacoemulsification with or without ORA/VERION system
The artificial lens, called an intraocular lens, is put in the same place as your natural lens. It remains a permanent part of your eye.
For some people, artificial lenses can't be used. In these situations, once the cataract is removed, vision may be corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Cataract surgery is typically done on an outpatient basis. This means you won't need to stay in a hospital after the surgery. During surgery, your eye doctor uses a medicine to numb the area around your eye. You usually stay awake during the procedure.
Cataract surgery is generally safe. However, it carries a risk of infection and bleeding. Cataract surgery also increases the risk of the retina being pulled out of place. This is called retinal detachment.
After the procedure, you may be sore for a few days. Healing usually happens within a few weeks.
If you need cataract surgery in both eyes, your doctor will schedule surgery to remove the cataract in the second eye after you've healed from the first surgery.