Cataract Treatments
What Are Your Treatment Options and When to Consider Treatment
Cataract Treatments
A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens in the eye that obstruct the passage of light and affects vision. In the US, an estimated 24.5 million people age 40 and older have cataracts. Cataract is the leading cause of blindness in the world.[1]
When to Consider Cataract Treatment
When cataracts start to affect your quality of life and interfere with normal activities, such as reading a newspaper or driving a car, it’s time to consider treatment. Delaying surgical treatment for cataracts won’t cause irreversible blindness. However, decreased vision due to the cataracts may cause discomfort and even results to accidents.
My name is Linda Kugler. I am a walking testimonial to success of cataract surgery. I’m so grateful to have my vision restored to the extent that it has been. I can read anything I pick up, including fine print. I can see clearly at a distance. I drive…It’s something I never, ever thought I would be able to enjoy.
Cataract Treatment Without Surgery
Unfortunately, you cannot make cataracts disappear by eating certain foods, using drops or taking supplements. There are no vitamins, herbs, or natural remedies that will make your cataract disappear. You may be able to delay the progression of cataracts or relieve some of the symptoms, in the early stages, by taking vitamins or non-surgical treatments. But as the cataract progresses, even these will fail to help your vision. Once cataracts is there, it’s there; it doesn’t go away by any other means except surgery.
The only effective treatment for cataracts is surgery. A cataract will get worse if not removed. Cataract surgery is the only way to do so. However, It is your choice when to have cataract surgery. Most people wait until their vision problems interfere with daily life.
What May Help Delay the Progression of Cataracts
- Quit smoking
- Stop drinking alcohol
- Maintain your ideal weight
- Add fruits and vegetables to your diet
- Take supplements high in antioxidant
- Wear sunglasses or wide-brim hat to block ultraviolet B (UVB) rays
- Have a regular eye examination. If you are age 60 or older, you should have a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once every two years. Early treatment for many eye diseases may save your sight.
Cataract Treatment with Surgery
Cataract surgery is the most common surgical procedure in the United States for people 65 years or older. Each year nearly 3 million Americans undergo the procedure. Cataract surgeries are performed without complication in over 95% of cases.[2] It involves removing an aging, cloudy eye lens and replacing it with an artificial one. Once done, cataract surgery can dramatically improve a person’s quality of life.
Cataract surgery only corrects vision problems caused by cataracts. This surgery cannot correct vision problems caused by glaucoma, diabetes, age-related macular degeneration, or other eye illnesses or injuries.
References
- Preventblindness.org. New Vision Problems in the U.S. Report | Prevent Blindness National [Internet]. 2015 [cited 2015 Jul 8]. Available from: http://www.preventblindness.org/new-vision-problems-us-report
Preventblindness.org. - Cataract Surgery | Prevent Blindness National [Internet]. 2015 [cited 2015 Jul 10]. Available from: http://www.preventblindness.org/cataract-surgery
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So You’ve Got a Cataract?
What You Need to Know About Cataract Surgery:
A Patient’s Guide to Modern Eye Surgery, Advanced Intraocular Lenses & Choosing Your Surgeon
by [Richardson, David D]