Your Eyes Age as You Age: Cataracts
Ageing Eyes: Cataracts
If you look in a child’s eyes, you can see how bright and clear their pupils are. One day I was talking to my daughter who has a three year old about his eyes and mentioned that adults eyes dim as they age. I asked her how do my pupils look. She said that they were not as bright as they used to be. I was kinda shocked. So, I looked in the mirror and said “Well they are not dull but not as shiny as they used to be.” Then I looked to see if I had a cataract.
Cataracts are one of the age-related changes that happens to many people as they age; however, children can develop cataracts, too. Adults can regain eyesight after cataract surgery but for children it may be congenital; therefore, their eyesight may or cannot be restored. A cataract is a cloudy covering over the lens in the pupil of your eye(s). This makes it difficult for light to penetrate through the eye to the retina and send a message to the brain. Because of the covering over the lens the light is refracted differently; therefore, you may have trouble reading, seeing things clearly, or driving at night. At first you may not be aware of decreased visual acuity but as time progresses your vision will impair your ability to function normally. My husband had a starburst cataract that severally limited his vision because the light was only able to penetrate through parts of the pattern. I remember that he had trouble with peripheral vision, reading and driving at night. He had a night job which required him to drive to work around midnight. Thank goodness the streets on his way to work were heavily lighted. I think that is how I first noticed his vision problems. He scared me driving at night.
Most people will get eyeglasses, increase the lighting in their home or stop driving at night. Over time, cataracts can lead to blindness. Blindness does not have to occur. All you have to do is get a comprehensive eye examination at least every two years. You or your significant other may spot a white-looking spot in your pupils or like me, was fearful when you are driving. Most people develop cataracts in the sixth decade, but it can start any time after the age of forty because proteins in the lens of your eyes begin to break down.
Types of cataracts
1. Nuclear sclerotic cataract: a hardening of the center of the eye lens making it become cloudy, yellow tinged, and hardens over time. The eye loses the ability to focus and see clearly.
2. Cortical cataract: White cloudiness develops on the outer edges of the eye and spread inward giving the appearance of a spoked wheel or star. This will cause blurred vision and glare along with difficulty in judging contrast and depth perception.
3. Posterior subcapsular cataract: A small cloudy or opaque area develops on the back of the lens under the lens capsule and grows rapidly, within a few months. This will cause a glare or halo effect around lights and difficulty reading.
People at risk of developing cataracts
1. People whose parents, siblings, or other family members had cataracts
2. People with certain diseases like diabetes, arthritis, and lupus
3. People who had a previous eye injury, eye surgery, or radiation to the upper body
4. People who take medications such as corticosteroids and phenothiazines
5. People who smoke
6. People who worked outside in the sun and do not protect their eyes
7. People who drink excessive alcohol*
There are a few things you can do to delay or prevent the onset of cataracts, especially if you work outside and are exposed to the sun or to ultraviolet (UV) rays.
1. Wear sunglasses with UV protection
2. Wear a cap
3. If you wear eyeglasses, make sure they have an anti-UV coating
4. Stop smoking
5. Get and keep your diabetes under control
6. Limit alcohol use
7. Eat fruits and vegetables rich in the eye antioxidants: Vitamin A, beta carotene, Vitamin C (ascorbic acid), Vitamin E, lutein, Zeaxanthin, and zinc. Foods like red berries, kiwi, tomatoes,
green leafy vegetables, red & green bell peppers, citrus fruits and juices, orange and yellow vegetables, nuts, seeds, and whole grains.
Vision Related Changes Secondary to Cataracts
1. Blurred vision
2. Ghosted images or double vision
3. Sensitivity to light-glares
4. Faded images or yellow halos around lights
Diagnosis of cataract is made via a simple eye examination. Depending on the size of the cataract and how it affects your ability to perform activities of daily living, you may be referred to an eye surgeon to have the cataract removed. This is a simple procedure that lasts about 20 minutes. The eye surgeon removes the cataract and replaces the lens of your eye with a clear artificial lens. You may have to wear eyeglasses after the surgery but your vision will be sharper and colors brighter within a few days.
*FYI excessive alcohol intake. CDC recommends adults drink in moderation which means that they should limit alcohol intake to 2 drinks of liquor (1.5 ounces) or 8–12 ounces of beer per day for men and for women 1 drink (5 ounces of wine) or less per day when they consume alcohol. Moderation is not drinking daily.
References
What are cataracts? Available online at https://www.aao.org/eye-health/diseases/what-are-cataracts
Cataracts. Available at https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cataracts/symptoms-causes/syc-20353790
Look to Fruits and Vegetables for Good Eye Health. Available online at https://www.health.ny.gov/publications/0911/
