Punzal Vision strives to educate all patients about diagnoses or any general questions you might have. One of the most common questions we get during an exam is, “What are cataracts?”.
We all have a natural lens within our eyes called the crystalline lens. The lens bends light rays to travel to the back of the eye to help us see. Developing cataracts is a natural process that happens over time in which proteins start to break down, resulting in the lens becoming cloudy. An analogy that we like to use is, it’s like looking out of a dirty windshield.
When does this normally happen you ask? Well, in most cases, cataracts can start to form around the age of 40. Some of the symptoms one may experience are- blurry vision, sensitivity to light, or color distortion.
More than 3 million cataract surgery procedures are performed every year in the United States. If your cataracts progress to the point where it’s significantly affecting your vision, Dr. Punzal will refer you to an Ophthalmologist for a cataract consultation with surgery to follow in the near future.
Cataract surgery is a procedure where the natural lens in your eye is broken up and gently removed by suction which can then be replaced with an artificial lens to restore clear vision. The procedure takes less than 30 minutes. Here on the island of Kaua’i, both eyes are done at different times to ensure proper rehabilitation of the surgery eye.
Although cataracts cannot be prevented, there are some tips to help reduce the progression of it. UV protection, healthy diet, staying away from tobacco use, and vitamins are highly recommended. Most times, cataract progression is gradual, so regular eye exams are important during this time, in order to monitor for cataracts and other eye conditions.
Schedule an appointment today to learn more about this common eye condition.
