A cataract is a collection of proteins that have clumped together on the lens of the eye. Generally speaking, they present as a clouding over the normally clear lens. In their earliest stages, cataracts are typically only detectable by a trained professional, but they tend to expand over time. Left untreated, a cataract will spread across the lens of the eye resulting in gradually reduced visual acuity for the affected person. Without intervention, it is possible for cataracts to result in total blindness.
Can Cataracts Go Away Naturally?
Despite the unpleasant nature of cataracts, they are a very common phenomenon. The elderly tend to be the most affected, but it is possible to see the condition in younger people. Currently, scientific estimates suggest that about half of all Americans over the age of 80 either have a cataract or have had one surgically removed previously. Although there are cases cataracts will spread very slowly in comparison to others, a cataract will never resolve naturally. If your goal is to eliminate the cataract, then you will require professional medical attention.
Keeping Cataracts at Bay
Cataracts may be common, but there are choices you can make that will reduce your risk of developing a cataract during your lifetime. Current research suggests that cutting back on harmful lifestyle choices, including smoking and drinking alcohol, could reduce your risk of developing cataracts by half.
In addition to choosing different vices, there are a few other lifestyle changes you may consider. A well-balanced diet dominated by nutrient-rich foods proves closely linked to general health. Current research shows that a nutritious diet can also help to boost your health, limiting the risk presented by cataracts. You should also wear protective lenses whenever possible to protect your eyes from the sun’s harmful rays.
Aside from these lifestyle changes, the single best thing you can do is visit your optometrist at Advanced Eye Medical in Orange County at least once per year. As a part of your annual exam, your eye doctor will perform a thorough visual examination of your eyes. In many cases, your eye doctor will be able to discern the signs of a possible cataract long before it begins to affect your vision.
Treating Cataracts
Once a cataract has been detected and positively diagnosed, you and your doctor can begin to discuss treatment options. Researchers are working hard to find a non-surgical treatment for cataracts, and there are some promising possibilities for the future. However, surgery is the only effective treatment we have for cataracts right now. The good news is that your cataract surgery in Orange County is a relatively simple surgery.
Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure done with local anesthetic. So you’ll be free to have someone drive you home almost immediately after surgery. All your surgeon has to do is make a small incision to remove the clouded lens and then replace it with an artificial lens. This intraocular lens becomes a permanent part of your eye. So it restores your vision to what it was prior to the formation of the cataract.
Of course, there is a risk of infection and bleeding as with any other procedure. Still, cataract surgery is considered a very safe procedure in the hands of a practiced professional. In the days following your surgery, you will likely experience some discomfort. But your eye should end up fully healed within eight weeks. During this time period, you will see your doctor for a series of follow-up visits to ensure that you’re healing properly. As long as everything goes to plan, cataract surgery will give you back your vision.