What are Cataracts?

Cataracts occur when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy. Most people with cataracts have it in both eyes, although one eye may be worse than the other. Cataracts are very common in older people. By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery. Cataract is the most common age-related eye disease and cause of vision loss in older adults. They currently affect nearly 20.5 million Americans age 40 and older. Signs and Symptoms:

· Changes in the way you see color
· Frequent changes in your eyeglass prescription
· Impaired vision at night, especially while driving, caused by effects of bright light
· Problems with glare from lamps or the sun
· Halos around lights
· Double vision
· White spot or cloudy spot in the lens of the eye (the pupil, instead of being black appears milky or white

Diagnosis

Only an eyecare professional can accurately diagnose cataracts. Tests performed during a regular eye exam will allow your eye doctor to determine if you have cataracts. For more on the basics of eye exams, click here. Causes/Risk Factors:

· Increased age
· Whole body diseases (including diabetes)
· Smoking
· High alcohol use
· Excessive exposure to sunlight (particularly as a child/young adult)

Prevention

To find an eye doctor in your area, use our Doctor Locator to the left. Smokers are more likely than non-smokers to develop cataracts. Keeping your eyes protected from UV rays can help prevent cataracts. A healthy diet can help reduce the risk of some eye-related diseases