Prevention of Blindness Society...
DECEMBER 2001
The Cataract Connection and Your
Eyes
In October, the Aging Eye Network had two very informative
presentations on cataracts. Drs.
Frank Ashburn and Heidi Lisker spoke at two different Fairfax County locations,
and the information in this article was taken from their lectures.
The word cataract is Greek for waterfall. A cataract is the clouding of the eye’s
natural lens. Treatment of
cataracts is one of the major health success stories of the 20th
century. In recent times, patients
were debilitated for several weeks, but today many patients can see better than
before with a short recuperation time.
As we get to ages 50-60, it is common for a yellowish haze
to form over our lens. One to two
million patients a year require cataract surgery. When you have a cataract it can be like looking through
muddy water. Cataracts are not a
film or a growth; not contagious and not caused by eye strain. It is caused by the change in protein
in the eye, and the common causes are aging, diabetes, heredity, injury and
certain medications.
* What
can be done to prevent cataracts?
Wearing a hat with a brim and sunglasses does not prevent cataracts, but
it can slow down the progression.
In other countries, anti-cataract medicines are available, but these do
not work.