What Causes Cataracts In Humans?

Cataracts are a common condition that mainly affects older people. According to the National Eye Institute, by age 80 most people either have cataracts or had surgery to treat the condition. It’s one of the most commonly carried out operations in the USA.

Causes of Cataracts

• Cataract is a leading cause of blindness in all species
• What causes cataracts in humans?

Cataract is a leading cause of blindness in all species

Cataracts can affect all animals, causing vision problems and, without treatment, can eventually lead to blindness. The condition is caused by the stiffening breakdown of the tissue that makes up the eye lens. This causes cells to clump together, so causing light that enters the eye to refract abnormally. In most cases, they evolve over many several years, although there are instances where the evolution is much quicker (generally associated with medical conditions such as diabetes and hypertension).

What causes cataracts in humans?

There are many causes of cataracts. The most common is the natural aging process (which is one of the reasons why it’s vital for everyone over the age of 50 to have regular eye checks).In addition, the following can also increase your risk of cataracts:

• Smoking
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Spending a lot of time in the sun (without appropriate eye protection)
• Long-term steroid use
• Health conditions, such as hypertension and diabetes
• Eye trauma
• Eye surgery
• Radiation treatment on the upper body
• A family history of cataracts

Cataracts can also affect children—a condition known as pediatric cataract. These are normally picked up at birth or soon after, and require the treatment of a specialist pediatric eye surgeon.

Symptoms and Treatment for Cataracts

• What are the symptoms of cataracts?
• Cataracts treatment
• How to find a cataract specialist near me

What are the symptoms of cataracts?

As cataracts evolve, you might experience some or all of the following:

• Blurred or cloudy vision
• Poor nighttime vision
• Difficulty seeing in dim light conditions
• Seeing halos around lights
• Colors appearing less bright or yellowed
• Needing a light source when reading or carrying out close up tasks
• Frequent prescription changes

Cataracts treatment

Cataracts are treated by a surgical procedure that removes the diseased lens and replaces it with an artificial one, known as an Intraocular lens (or IOL). It’s one of the most commonly performed operations in the USA, usually carried out on an out-patient basis (so you go home the same day). Today’s advanced technology means it’s done under local anesthetic and takes only 30-45 minutes to perform. Full recovery takes around eight weeks, but an improvement in vision is often almost immediate.

How to find a cataract specialist near me

While common, cataracts warrant specialist treatment. This is because if they’re left to evolve without intervention, they can cause life-changing visual problems and even blindness. The choice of treatments and IOLs continues to advance, meaning you should use due diligence to select the expert clinician who best suits your needs.This means that using the location of a cataract specialist shouldn’t necessarily be the driving force behind your choice of provider. Far better to seek out the person best suited to treat your unique condition. If that means you have to travel a little to avail yourself of the expertise, then you’re sure to agree that your precious eyesight is worth the slight inconvenience.Always check out patient reviews before scheduling an appointment, and be sure to ask plenty of questions as to how the specialist intends to treat your condition. That way you’ll not only be well-informed, but you’ll strike up a professional relationship of trust—something that’s essential when dealing with what is probably the most important of all the human senses.

Contact the WBEC for the Ultimate Cataract Treatment

The West Boca Eye Center (WBEC) is piloted by leading cataract specialist, Brent Bellotte MD., a global expert in the treatment of the condition. Bellotte plays a pivotal role in bringing cutting-edge solutions to cataract patients and is held in high esteem by his peers as to his knowledge and expertise in this field.Thanks to his passion and commitment to his professional career, clients of the West Boca Eye Center can take advantage of the very latest treatments for cataracts (and other eye conditions) that often can’t be found elsewhere. Don’t entrust your precious eyesight to anyone other than a true expert. Visit https://westbocaeyecenter.com and schedule your appointment today.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]