Cataracts are a very common eye condition as well as the leading cause of blindness worldwide. Fortunately, they are easily treated with stronger eyewear prescriptions and eventually surgery. Despite being easily treatable, many people can be left wondering what causes cataracts to begin with and why they may need cataract surgery in Knoxville, TN.
A cataract is when the lens of the eye becomes clouded. This clouding prevents light from reaching the retina and being turned into the images that you see, resulting in blurred vision. Aging is the most common cause of cataracts. Other causes for this common condition include family medical history and previous eye injuries.
What Are Cataracts?
The clouding of the eye’s lens is known as a cataract. They make it difficult to focus light the way your eye normally would as well as prevent light from reaching the retina. With cataracts, your vision becomes blurry and distorted rather than clear and focused. Cataracts are a chronic condition, meaning that they will only worsen as time goes on.
When healthy, the eye’s lens is clear and unobstructed so light can easily pass through the lens and make its way onto the retina. The retina is essential for good vision since it receives and organizes visual information and sends it through the optic nerve to the brain where it becomes the images that you see. Cataracts impede this process and require surgery in advanced cases.
What Are Cataracts?
The clouding of the eye’s lens is known as a cataract. They make it difficult to focus light the way your eye normally would as well as prevent light from reaching the retina. With cataracts, your vision becomes blurry and distorted rather than clear and focused. Cataracts are a chronic condition, meaning that they will only worsen as time goes on.
When healthy, the eye’s lens is clear and unobstructed so light can easily pass through the lens and make its way onto the retina. The retina is essential for good vision since it receives and organizes visual information and sends it through the optic nerve to the brain where it becomes the images that you see. Cataracts impede this process and require surgery in advanced cases.
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What Causes Cataracts?
Cataracts are the result of the natural proteins of the lens breaking down over time. As this process goes on, the lens of the eye becomes harder and more rigid. The deteriorating proteins clump together and alter the look of your lens by making it cloudier and more opaque. This is a slow-moving process that can take years to actually affect your vision and become noticeable.
While all cataracts are similar in how they cloud the lens of the eye, their causes can vary from case to case. The most common cause of cataracts is the natural aging process. However, your family medical history can also play an important role and make you more prone to the condition. Trauma to the eye can also cause cataracts to form earlier than usual.
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The Aging Process
The most common cause of cataracts is aging. Cataracts are a natural part of growing older with protein breakdown being a process every person will experience. This tends to begin around age 40 and over 50% of Americans will have them by age 80. They are expected to become more common in the U.S. with a projected 40 million Americans having them by 2030.
Despite being so common, cataracts can actually go unnoticed for years. This is because they take so long to develop to the point of affecting your vision. In fact, the majority of patients don’t even notice them until around 60 years of age. Eventually, your vision will become noticeably cloudy, taking on a yellow or brownish tint as it becomes more difficult to see clearly.
Cataracts are a prime reason why staying on top of your eye health and getting regular comprehensive eye exams are so important. They give your eye doctor an opportunity to view the inner structures of your eyes and check for signs of cataracts. These in-depth exams also allow them to check for other conditions that can affect your vision and your overall health.
Family Medical History
Family medical history plays an important role in your individual health, including your likelihood of developing cataracts. While everyone will likely eventually be diagnosed with cataracts, individual cases can vary. Your family medical history can affect this by putting you at a higher risk if your parents or other family members have them. You may develop them earlier or they could develop more quickly.
Be sure to discuss your family’s medical history with your parents and other relatives. They can tell you if cataracts and other health conditions are common in your family tree. You will then want to share this information with your eye doctor and other healthcare providers. This will alert your team of physicians as to what they should pay special attention to during exams.
Eye Injuries
Injuries and other types of eye trauma may result in traumatic cataracts. These types of cataracts can vary depending on the type of trauma you experience and can determine the type of treatment your eye surgeon recommends.
You should always visit your eye doctor after an eye injury. They will be able to treat the wound and any side effects such as swelling or other issues that follow eye trauma. They will also be able to gauge your risk of developing cataracts later on. Your eye doctor can address any recurring issues following trauma such as floaters, blurred or double vision, and mobility issues.
Are you in need of an eye doctor in Knoxville, TN? Contact us today with any questions you may have!
The clouding of the lens of the eye is known as a cataract. It prevents light from reaching the retina and eventually reaching the brain where it becomes the images that you see. This causes your vision to become distorted and blurry over time. Aging is the most common cause of cataracts, but they can also be caused by genetics and previous eye trauma.
Tennessee Valley Eye Center is Knoxville’s premier eye care facility, performing more eye surgeries than any other facility in the region. Our board-certified surgeons cover all ophthalmic subspecialties, including cataracts, cornea, glaucoma, retina, eyelid disorders and cancers, and eye muscle surgeries. We want you to feel as comfortable and confident as possible as you prepare for surgery. If you would like to discuss your surgery with us at any time, please do not hesitate to contact us.
