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Your eye has a lens that becomes cloudy a sign that you may have cataract. Cataract prevents you from seeing clearly and you may have to make do with a blurry vision if you choose not to address this surgically. There are some cataracts that may not be a nuisance in these cases, one may not have to go through surgery.
If yours is a minor degree, it may help to just use eyeglasses, anti-glares, proper lighting during reading and the like. Such will help with the vision problem you may have. But if yours should be a case wherein you cannot see clearly anymore, then your only option may be to go for surgery.
An eye problem as cataract usually comes about during one's later years. At around middle age, some might not know it but they may just have cataracts starting to form in their eyes. Cataracts develop slowly and may not usually pose a problem for your vision right there and then.
As one ages, it has been found that the eyes' lenses degrade. The lens becomes thicker and less transparent. The lens' composition changes from one that is clear, to one that will interfere with the light passing through. The protein fibers will change in structure affecting one's vision. Free radicals compound the effect, making it worse for your vision. This is why smoking and UV radiation should be avoided.
Cataracts are not painful so if you have redness, aching or itching in your eye, it may be a sign of another eye disorder. Only if yours is an overripe cataract one that is completely white you may, in this case, feel some pain and headache. In such a case, you have to refer to your ophthalmologist and consult for possible removal.
Cataracts are usually related to aging yet other causes include previous injury to the eye, exposure to radiation & sunlight, having a family history of cataracts and diabetes. With these, you are better off taking care of your eyes and your health in general so that developing cataracts will be far from probable for your case.
Cataracts may fall under one of three types. A nuclear cataract appears in the middle of the lens. Vision at nighttime will be a problem for this type, thus activities as driving at night should be avoided. Then we have a cortical cataract, which starts at the outer edge of the lens. In time, this will reach the center portion and will be a problem for you in terms of loss of contrast. Then there is subcapsular cataract, which starts as an opaque area under the capsule of your lens. This type will affect your reading vision and you will have problems with glare.
Detection of cataracts may include visual acuity test, retinal examination and slit-lamp examination. Such tests will confirm whether you have a cataract or whether yours is a case of another eye disease. This is necessary so that you will know how to proceed and be able to discuss treatment options with your eye doctor.
For prevention of cataracts or any eye disease for that matter requires that you become conscious of its causes. It requires that you generally take care of your body as some illnesses as diabetes will complicate things. Exposure to smoke & sunlight should be eliminated if not, kept to a minimum.
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- Should I have cataract surgery?
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