Cataracts are a common cause of vision loss among older adults. Cataracts develop when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy, which can cause blurred or misty vision. Symptoms may include glare from lights, faded colors, double vision, and decreased effectiveness of glasses over time. While rare forms can affect babies and children, age-related cataracts are very common in older age groups, with over 50% of those over age 80 having had cataract surgery. Risk factors include family history, smoking, excessive alcohol consumption, poor diet, sun exposure, corticosteroid use, eye injuries or surgery, and health conditions like diabetes.

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http://www.retinasurgeon.uk.com/
Source:http://www.nhs.uk/
Age-RelatedCataracts
Cataract
SymptomsOfCataracts
CataractsMayAlsoAffectYourSight
Whoisaffected?
Whatcausesage-relatedcataracts?
10% 2.5millionpeopleaged
65oroldercaused
bycataracts.
FactsAndStats
65-69 70-74 75-79 80-84 85Above
80
70
60
50
40
30
2020
10
0
ofpeopleinthisage
grouphadprevious
cataractsurgeryin
oneorbotheyes.
WhenToSeeAnOptician
Cataractsarecloudypatchesthatdevelop
inthelensofyoureyeandcancause
blurredormistyvision.
Cataractsdevelopovermanyyearsandproblemsmay
atfirstbeunnoticeable.Theyoftendevelopinbotheyes,
althougheacheyemaybeaffecteddifferently
Youwillusuallyhaveblurred,cloudyormistyvision,
oryoumayhavesmallspotsorpatches
whereyourvisionislessclear.
•Theglarefrombrightlightsmaybedazzlingor
uncomfortabletolookat
•Coloursmaylookfadedorlessclear
•Everythingmayhaveayelloworbrowntinge
•Youmayhavedoublevision
•Youmayseeahalo(acircleoflight)aroundbrightlights,
suchascarheadlightsorstreetlights
•Ifyouwearglasses,youmayfindthattheybecome
lesseffectiveovertime
Cataractsarethemaincauseofimpairedvisionworldwide.
Raretypesofcataractsaffectbabiesandyoungchildren
(childhoodcataracts),theproblemismuchmorecommon
inolderpeople.Cataractsthatdevelopwithageare
knownasage-relatedcataracts.
Ifyouhaveproblemswithyourvision,
makeanappointmenttoseeyouroptician
(alsoknownasanoptometrist).
Anopticiancanexamineyoureyesandtestyoursight.
•Ahistoryofcataractsinyourfamily
•Smoking
•Regularlydrinkingexcessiveamountsofalcohol
•Apoordietlackinginvitamins
•Lifelongexposureofyoureyestosunlight
•Takingcorticosteroidmedicationatahighdoseorforalongtime
••Previouseyesurgeryorinjury
•Certainhealthconditions,suchasdiabetesorlong-term
uveitis(inflammationofthemiddlelayeroftheeye)
CataractsStudyInLondon
Cataract