Cataracts

Cataract Treatment in Cincinnati and Northern Kentucky

If you are encountering blurred vision, muted colors, and increased difficulty seeing while driving at night, it’s quite possible that you have developed cataracts. This is a very common condition that affects up to 50% of Americans by the age of 75.¹ At Cincinnati Eye Institute, our experienced ophthalmologists can diagnose and treat cataracts, restoring your clear vision or even helping you see more clearly than you did before you developed cataracts.

What are Cataracts?

A cataract is a natural clouding of the eye’s lens. Think of the lens like a window: when it becomes cloudy, it is more difficult to see through the window clearly. Cataracts affect the eye in much the same way.

For most people, cataracts progress slowly. When a person’s cataracts are in their early stages, he or she may be able to achieve clearer vision by changing eyeglass prescriptions or using stronger lighting. Eventually, however, cataracts will progress to the extent that they impede vision and surgical treatment is necessary.²
 
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Symptoms of Cataracts

At first, symptoms of cataracts are often mild and may not even be noticeable without an eye exam. As cataracts progress, symptoms include:

• Blurred vision
• Increased glares, halos, or difficulty with night vision
• Light sensitivity
• Muted or dulled colors
• Frequent changes in prescription for glasses or contacts
• Double vision in one eye

Cataract Diagnosis

While you may not be able to see cataracts with the naked eye, this condition can be quickly and easily diagnosed by an ophthalmologist during a comprehensive eye examination, which includes:

• Review of patient history
• Refraction and visual acuity tests
• A slit lamp examination to view the lens of the eye
• Examination of the retina
• Testing for glare sensitivity
• Testing color vision
• Measurement of the pressure within the eye (tonometry)

Can cataracts be prevented?

For most people, cataracts are a normal part of the eye’s aging process. Cataracts cannot be prevented, but it may be possible to slow their progression and protect your eye health by taking certain steps, such as:

• Quitting smoking
• Reducing alcohol consumption
• Protecting your eyes from UV light by wearing a hat or sunglasses outdoors
• Eating a healthy diet rich in antioxidants

¹ National Eye Institute. Cataract Data and Statistics. Available: https://www.nei.nih.gov/learn-about-eye-health/resources-for-health-educators/eye-health-data-and-statistics/cataract-data-and-statistics. Accessed March 26, 2021.
² Mayo Clinic. Cataracts. Available: https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/cataracts/symptoms-causes/syc-20353790. Accessed March 26, 2021.
³ Cleveland Clinic. Cataracts. Available: https://my.clevelandclinic.org/health/diseases/8589-cataracts#diagnosis-and-tests. Accessed March 26, 2021.
⁴ American Refractive Surgery Council. Is Cataract Surgery with Vision-Correcting IOLs Safe? Available: https://americanrefractivesurgerycouncil.org/refractive-surgery-procedures/cataract-surgery-with-vision-correcting-iols/is-cataract-surgery-with-vision-correcting-iols-safe. Accessed February 10, 2021.