If you are experiencing blurred or hazy vision where colors may seem yellowed or a feeling of having a film over the eyes and an increased sensitivity to glare, especially at night, you may be developing a cataract.

What is a cataract?

A cataract is the clouding of your eye's natural lens.  A cataract scatters or blocks the light that passes into the eye.  This usually occurs gradually so you may not notice it at first.

There are different types of cataracts:

• Age-related cataract � most cataracts are related to age
  
• Congenital cataract � some people are born with cataracts or cataracts develop in childhood. These cataracts may not affect vision.
  
• Secondary cataract � cataracts can develop in people who have certain other health problems, such as diabetes and can be linked to steroid use.
  
• Traumatic cataract � cataracts can develop soon after an eye injury, or years later.

Eye without cataract	Eye with cataract

What is the lens?

The lens is the part of the eye that helps focus light on the retina.  The retina is the eye's light-sensitive layer that sends visual signals to the brain.

What are the most common symptoms?

• Cloudy or blurry vision
  
• Problems with light such as headlights that seem too bright at night; difficulty with the glare from lamps or very bright sunlight
  
• Colors that seem faded
  
• Poor night vision
  
• Double or multiple vision
  
• Frequent changes in your eyeglasses or contact lenses

What can be done to prevent cataracts?

Not smoking, avoiding heavy alcohol intake, eating lots of spinach, taking 500 mg of vitamin C and wearing UV protection in sunglasses may decrease your risk of getting cataracts.  People over the age of 60 are at risk for many vision problems.  If you are age 60 or older, you should have an eye examination with dilated pupils at least every 2 years.

What is the treatment for cataracts?

For the early stages of the cataract, vision may improve by using different eyeglasses, magnifying lenses, or stronger lighting.  When these measures do not help, surgery is the only effective treatment.  A cataract needs to be removed only when vision loss interferes with everyday activities, such as driving, reading, or watching TV.  There is no medical urgency to remove cataracts unless it prevents examination or treatment of another eye problem, such as macular degeneration or diabetic retinopathy.

How is a cataract removed?

Cataract removal is one of the most common operations performed today.  It is also one of the safest and most effective.

There are two primary ways to remove a cataract.

• Phacoemulsification (most patients call this laser surgery because they cannot pronounce it), or phaco � a small incision is made on the side of the cornea.  A tiny probe is inserted into the eye.  This device emits ultrasound waves that soften and break up the cloudy center of the lens so it can be removed by suction.
  
• Extracapsular surgery � a slightly longer incision on the side of the cornea is made and the hard center of the lens is removed.  The remainder of the lens is removed by suction

In most cataract surgeries, an intraocular lens is attached and becomes a permanent part of the eye.  Some people cannot have this lens because of problems during surgery or another eye disease.  These people can use a soft contact lens or glasses that provide powerful magnification.

Dr. Bohn has been performing cataract surgery since 1971 and Dr. Joseph since 1986.  The surgery is done on an outpatient basis; there is no overnight hospital stay.  If you are experiencing the symptoms described above contact us to schedule an appointment.

We encourage you to learn more about cataracts.  Below is information on other locations that additional information can be found.

 Agency for Health Care Policy and Research

Publications Clearinghouse

P.O. Box 8547
Silver Spring, MD 20907
1-800-358-9295
410-381-3150

 American Academy of Ophthalmology

655 Beach Street
San Francisco, CA 94109-7424
415-561-8500

Information regarding IOLs:

 US Food and Drug Administration

Office of Consumer Affairs

Parklawn Building (HFE-88)
5600 Fishers Lane
Rockville, MD 20857
1-800-532-4440
301-827-4420