Cataracts

	Almost everyone develops cataracts as they grow older.

If you are considering cataract surgery, visit our cataract surgery page to learn more about the procedure.

A cataract is the gradual clouding of the natural lens inside the eye.  There is no known medicine or treatment to reverse the growth of cataracts.  One a cataract develops it will continue to progress until it is surgically removed.  Cataracts are very common, especially in people over the age of 55.  In fact, it is said that everyone will develop cataracts eventually if they live long enough.

Light rays enter the eye through the cornea, pass through the lens and land on the back of the eye (retina).  The brain interprets the image on the retina.  As a cataract develops, the light rays entering the eye have more difficulty passing through the cloudy lens (cataract) to reach the retina.  This results in blurred vision.  People with cataracts may complain that their vision appears blurry, hazy, smoky or waxy.  They may also notice difficulty with reading, recognizing faces or walking, especially in low light.  Driving at night may become more difficult and even dangerous due to glare and halos around lights.

Symptoms of cataracts:

• Vision decreasing with age 
• Blurrey or double vision
• Glare or halos around lights, especially at night 
• Poor night vision 
• Vision that worsens in sunlight
• Difficulty distinguishing colors
• Decreased depth perception
• Glasses prescription changing frequently 
• Trouble reading up close 

Blurred vision
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Causes of cataracts:

• Age
• Injury to the eye
• Genetics
• Diabetes
• Certain medications including long-term use of oral steroids
• Ultraviolet radiation
• Smoking
• Glaucoma
• Certain metabolic conditions

Diagnosing cataracts:

The doctors at Eye Centers of Tennessee can diagnose cataracts during a routine dilated eye examination.  If the cataracts have progressed far enough to warrant being removed, you will be sent to see Dr. Larry Patterson, our surgeon.

Treating cataracts:

There is no known medicine or treatment to reverse the development of cataracts.  Once a cataract develops it will continue to progress until it is surgically removed.