Complications Of Cataract

What is a cataract?

A cataract refers to a clouding of your lens that causes changes to your vision. Cataracts tend to occur as you age and may affect one eye or both eyes.

Your lens is made up of special proteins that are arranged in such a way to keep your vision clear. As you get older, these proteins clump together to create a clouding effect.

Researchers aren’t certain why this happens, but you may be more at risk of developing cataracts if you have diabetes or a history of smoking.

What are the types of cataracts?

While cataracts are often associated with aging, there are other potential causes. The various causes are classified by type, and include:

Secondary cataract

A secondary cataract refers to the clouding of your lens that develops from another cause, such as surgery for glaucoma or diabetes.

Congenital cataract

Some babies are born with cataracts. These types of cataracts can be tiny and may not affect vision. However, if they do cause vision changes, surgery is recommended.

Traumatic cataract

An injury to your eye may place you at risk of developing a cataract, even years after the incident.

You may also be at risk of cataracts if you’ve had radiation for cancer treatment, which is referred to as a radiation cataract.

What are complications of cataracts?

Due to the clouding of your normally clear lens, the primary complication of your cataracts is the effect on your vision. Some of the vision changes you may experience with a cataract include:

• Blurriness
• Dulling of colors
• Sensitivity to sun glare and headlights
• Difficulty seeing at night
• Double vision

If your cataract is in the early stages, you may be able to correct the vision changes with prescription eyewear. But as the clouding progresses, you may require cataract surgery to remove the clouded lens.

How are cataracts treated?

Surgery is the only treatment for cataracts. However, your physician at Retina Associates of New York only recommends surgery when your vision changes are altering your quality of life.

During the procedure, your provider removes your clouded lens and replaces it with an artificial one.Cataract surgery is common. While risks are minimal, the procedure may increase your risk of a retinal detachment, which is when your retina lifts away from the back of your eye.

For management of the complications of cataracts, call Retina Associates of New York today or request an appointment online.