Cataracts are common eye issues that tend to affect people as they age. Use this guide to learn more about cataracts and the problems they cause so you know when it is time to see an eye doctor in Chicago to help correct your vision issues:
A Cataract
A cataract occurs when the lens of the eye gets cloudy. Most of the time, cataracts develop in older people, but they can happen to anyone of any age. By the age of 80, more than 50 percent of Americans have cataracts or have had custom cataract surgery to correct cataracts. Although this condition can happen in one or both eyes, it cannot spread from one eye to the other eye.
The Causes of Cataracts
The lens of the eye is comprised of mostly water and protein. In a healthy eye, the protein allows the light to travel clearly through it and to the retina. As the body ages, the protein might group together and create a cloud.
The Cataract and the Lens
Cataracts are a big deal because they make the lens cloudy . The lens is the part of the eye that focuses light on the retina, which allows you to see. If the lens is cloudy, the light cannot travel to the retina as well and it can severely hinder one’s ability to see. If you have blurry vision, you should schedule an appointment with an eye doctor in Chicago to see if you have cataracts.
The Kinds of Cataracts
In addition to a regular aging cataract, there are a few other kinds that could affect someone’s vision. A secondary cataract can develop after another kind of eye surgery. They can also be a side effect of health issues like diabetes or from steroid use. Traumatic cataracts might occur after an eye injury. Congenital cataracts can occur in babies or in young children. If your child has congenital cataracts, the eye doctor might need to completely remove the lens. Radiation cataracts might develop after exposure to radiation.