What Are Cataracts?
The leading cause of blindness and visual impairment is cataracts. Cataracts account for approximately 35% of global blindness. This is according to the International Agency for the Prevention of Blindness. A clouding of the lens is a cataract. It turns the lens of the eyes from clear to yellow. Other times it may turn it from yellow, brown, or even a milky white color. This change in color is what does not allow light to pass through the eye. Cataracts will block even more light from entering into the eye over time. This will eventually result in blindness or loss of vision. If you think you may have cataracts, you will need to make an appointment with an ophthalmologist. If you are in the Inglewood area, we can assist you here at the office of Dr. Leroy Vaughn.
Causes & Symptoms
A number of factors can cause or even increase a person’s risk of cataracts which include:
- Eye injury
- Smoking
- Age
- Diabetes
- Obesity
- Genetic disorders
- U.V. light exposure
- Uveitis
Older people have the most cases of cataracts even though they can appear at any age. Children can even develop cataracts known as “childhood cataracts.”
Symptoms of cataracts include:
- Glare and halos in the field of vision
- Closing eyes or squinting when exposed to bright light
- Blurred or clouded vision
- Headaches that develop from bright light
Cataracts is just like seeing a dirty spot on a window that becomes bigger. You will see less of it until you can no longer see it anymore.
Treatment & Surgery
Cataracts cannot be treated with medications or traditional treatments because there are none available. It will not go away on its own. Cataracts can only be treated via an operation to get rid of the clouded natural lens and replace it with a more artificial one. During the surgery, the eye is not removed. In order to prevent permanent vision loss in children who are born with cataracts, it must be treated within the first few months.
An ophthalmologist will perform an eye exam prior to surgery to determine the health of the patient’s eyes and determine any risk factors they may have. During surgery general anesthesia is given and the surgery itself usually lasts about 20 minutes. Following surgery, patients are required to wear an eye patch and may be asked to stay overnight in the hospital depending on several different factors. A checkup is generally recommended the following day after surgery. The patient’s vision will immediately improve if the surgery was a success.
Call Dr. Leroy Vaughn Today!
To schedule a visit with us here at the office of Dr. Leroy Vaughn, please give us a call. Our office is in Inglewood.
