Truth About Cataracts: Over 20 Million Americans Have Cataracts
Cataract surgery is the most frequently performed surgical procedure in the United States; August is Cataract Awareness Month
August 13, 2009 (Louisville, KY) – Did you know that 20.5 million Americans age 40 and older have cataracts, one of the most curable causes of vision loss? And that more than half of all Americans develop cataracts by age 80?
To recognize Cataract Awareness Month in August, Dr. Asim Piracha, a cataract and cornea specialist at the John-Kenyon American Eye Institute wants people to know that vision loss from cataracts is not something you have to live with. Cataract surgery is a safe procedure that more than 1.6 million people undergo every year to treat their cataracts and often restore their vision.
A cataract is the clouding of the eye's normally clear lens, blocking the passage of light needed for vision. They form slowly and cause no pain. Some stay small and hardly affect vision, but if the cataract does grow and begin to affect your vision, it can usually be removed with surgery.
"Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness worldwide; what most people don’t know though, is that, in most cases, vision loss from cataracts is reversible," said Dr. Piracha. "New techniques developed over the past decade have made cataract surgery one of the safest and most successful procedures available in terms of restoring quality of life to patients. New, advanced implantable lenses improve vision safely and effectively and often reduce the dependence on glasses and contact lenses.”
"There are no drugs or exercises that will make a cataract disappear, and contrary to popular belief, cataracts are not removed using lasers. Lasers are used in follow-up procedures, if needed. Cataract surgery is most often done as an outpatient procedure under local anesthesia," says Dr. Piracha. "The cloudy natural lens can be replaced with an artificial lens to give the eye proper focusing power. In most cases, the improvement in the patient's vision is profound."
So how can you tell if you are suffering from a cataract? Dr. Piracha explains: “Some people notice a gradual painless blurring of vision, double vision in one eye or fading or yellowing of colors. When older patients mention sensitivity to glare and/or bright light or trouble driving at night, this may be caused by cataracts.”
A common misconception is that a patient must wait until a cataract is “ripe” before it is removed. "That's definitely not the case,” explains Dr. Piracha. “The best time to have a cataract removed is when it starts to interfere with your day-to-day life. If things like driving, reading or watching TV become more difficult, it’s time to get your eyes checked out. "
If you believe you are suffering from cataracts, visit your local eye care professional who can check for the condition. In the event of a cataract, they will recommend you to a cataract specialist, like Dr. Piracha, who can determine your next steps.