What are Cataracts?
So, let’s break down cataracts. A cataract is a common eye condition that occurs when your clear crystalline lens becomes rigid and opaque, leading to a milky, hazy, or yellow-ish discoloration. As this develops, it can affect your vision quality and even cause blindness in severe cases.
Nearly 20 million people have cataracts, and the condition is responsible for 51% of blindness worldwide. But how do you know if you’re developing or at risk of developing cataracts?
If you have cataracts, some symptoms you could experience include:
- Faded or muted colors
- Blurred vision
- Double vision
- Frequent prescription changes for your glasses or contact lenses
- Light sensitivity
- Glare or halos appearing around light sources
- Refractive errors like nearsightedness or farsightedness
The aging process usually causes cataracts, but other risk factors could include:
- UV damage
- Smoking
- Diseases like diabetes
- Long term use of certain medications like steroids
- Eye injuries
- Long-term and excessive alcohol consumption