How Do Cataracts Affect Your Vision?

Approximately 40% to 50% of the population diagnosed with blindness in Mexico have the condition due to cataracts, which mainly affect people over 65 years of age. Worldwide, 94 million people have cataracts according to World Health Organization estimates. June is Cataract Awareness Month, which is why we want to take a moment to let you know how cataracts affect your vision and to share some tips on how to take care of your visual health.

What is a Cataract?

A cataract is a clouding of the crystalline lens inside your eye. This lens is one of the key structures for focusing light at the back of your eye, where nerves send signals to your brain enabling you to see an image. When the lens of your eye is clear and unclouded, it allows light to pass through. As your lens naturally clouds with age, it blocks some light from coming through.

Vision with Cataracts

This blockage causes vision to become yellowed and blurry, almost like looking through an amber filter or dirty glasses. This makes it difficult to see, especially at night; glare around lights is a common symptom of cataracts.

As the cataract grows larger and clouds more of your lens, more noticeable symptoms will develop. These symptoms may include cloudy or blurred vision, faded colors, double or multiple images, and poor night vision.

How To Protect Your Eyes

• Identify risk factors to prevent serious eye diseases from robbing your vision. Family history, ethnicity, age, and other factors should be discussed with your ophthalmologist during your routine eye exam.
• Exercise, eating right, and other healthy habits have always been important to all aspects of your health. Reducing the risk of certain health conditions, such as obesity or diabetes, will protect your eyes.
• Get an annual eye exam with an ophthalmologist that includes pupil dilation, especially if you are 40 years of age or older.

Source:
American Academy of Ophthalmology
World Health Organization