The word “cataract” refers to a condition in which the eye’s lens loses its transparency. Cataracts are a fact of human life; surgery for the condition has been around since at least the early days of the Roman Empire. Read on to learn what the sure signs of cataracts are and what causes them in the first place.
Causes of Cataracts
Cataracts are primarily a condition of old age; it’s natural for the human eye to lose some of its flexibility and to thicken over the course of your life. For people with cataracts, however, these changes are taken to the extreme and the end result is that portions of the eye actually begin to come apart. These pieces of free-floating tissue eventually gather together, creating areas in which it’s impossible for light to come through the lens. This, in turn, leads to blind spots.
Old age is the most common cause of cataracts, but they can also be caused by eye trauma. Young people can develop cataracts if their face or eyes are hit; people both young and old can also develop cataracts because of illness. People can also be born with cataracts if their mothers suffered from a serious infection while pregnant.
Symptoms of Cataracts
The tissue that makes up a cataract may give everything you see a yellowish tinge; other patients notice that colors seem less and less vibrant. The tell-tale sign of cataracts is simply worsening vision: Your night vision may begin to go, and even during the daytime your vision may begin to seem “cloudy” or fuzzy. Other symptoms include double vision, a sudden inability to tolerate bright light, and constant shifts in your vision correction prescription. People with cataracts often see light “radiating” from all around a light source.
Fortunately, cataracts are treatable. If you have this condition, then you don’t have to resign yourself to gradually going blind: There is help. At Boston Laser, we deal with laser vision correction and laser eye surgery on a constant basis, and are adept in surgical techniques that can rid you of cataracts quickly and simply. Call us today at (617) 566-0062.
