Cerrar

Cataracts are one of the most common eye conditions.

However, many people still have questions about them: at what age do they appear? What are their causes? Are they reversible? Keep reading to learn the answers to these questions and more.

What are cataracts?

A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye. The lens is a structure located behind the pupil that allows us to focus on images at any distance.

That is why people with cataracts say that it feels like looking through a foggy window. Cataracts can make many daily activities more difficult, such as reading, driving, and even recognizing expressions or familiar faces.

Most cataracts develop slowly and initially do not affect how we see, but if left untreated they can eventually impact vision.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), the primary causes of impaired vision worldwide are uncorrected refractive errors and cataracts.

Initially, the clouding caused by a cataract only affects a small part of the lens of the eye. But as the clouding grows, it distorts the light that passes through the lens and causes various symptoms:

• Cloudy, blurry, or dim vision.
• Double vision in just one eye.
• Increased difficulty seeing at night.
• Sensitivity to light and brightness.
• Fading of colors or yellowing.
• Need for brighter light to read or do other activities.
• Frequent changes in glasses or contact lens prescription.

At what age do cataracts appear?

Age is the most common cause of cataracts. People between ages 40 and 50 can have them, but these cases are usually mild and do not affect vision.

After age 60, they start to become a serious vision problem. That is because as we get older, the proteins in the lens break down and deteriorate.

Over time, exposure to ultraviolet radiation or toxins can also have a cumulative effect that negatively impacts health, including eye function.

Other factors that can contribute to cataracts are:

• Celiac disease: Although uncommon, cases of cataracts in association with undiagnosed celiac disease have been reported.
• Genetics: Chromosome abnormalities usually associated with cataracts include Alport syndrome, Conradi-Hünermann syndrome, Down syndrome, Edward syndrome, Lowe syndrome, and Turner syndrome.
• Skin disorders: The eyes (specifically the lens) and skin can be affected by the same diseases, including atopic dermatitis (eczema) and ichthyosis.
  
• Smoking: Tobacco addiction has been shown to be associated with a higher risk of developing cataracts. The same is said about alcoholism, although in this case, the evidence is contradictory.
  
• Trauma: Blows or injuries to the eyes can damage the capsule that contains the lens and allow fluid to enter it. This causes inflammation and blocks the passage of light into the retina.
• Use of medications: Some drugs can increase the risk of developing cataracts; for example, corticosteroids, which are used for allergies, rheumatoid arthritis, asthma, and inflammatory bowel disease, among other conditions. Remember, do not stop taking your prescription medications. If you have any questions, talk to a health care professional.

Other factors that can contribute to cataracts are diabetes, obesity, high blood pressure, previous eye injuries or surgeries, and excessive sun exposure.

How are cataracts treated?

If you develop any symptoms of cataracts or suspect your eyes aren’t working as they should, you should consult an eye doctor.

To determine whether you have cataracts, the doctor will review your medical history and signs and perform eye exams, such as a visual acuity test (which determines your ability to read a series of letters on an eye chart), retinal exam (in which your pupils are dilated to facilitate the exam), or a slit lamp test.

Glasses can be prescribed to correct vision problems, but if they don’t work, surgery can be performed. During the surgery, the cloudy lens is removed and replaced with a clear, artificial lens, called an intraocular lens.

This procedure is done on an outpatient basis; this means that you do not have to stay in the hospital afterward. Recovery usually takes between seven and eight weeks. It is common to feel discomfort during the recovery period.

If you need to have cataract surgery in both eyes, the doctor will schedule them so that you will have the second surgery after you have already recovered from the first.

Can cataracts be prevented?

Studies have not yet demonstrated a way to prevent or slow the progression of cataracts. However, specialists say that there are some strategies related to risk factors that may be helpful:

• Schedule regular eye exams: These are essential for detecting cataracts and other vision problems in their early stages.
• Avoid smoking or excessive alcohol use: Smoking, and to a lesser extent alcoholism, are risk factors for cataracts.
• Exercise often: Regular physical activity is key to keeping the body, including the eyes, working like it should. It also helps reduce other risk factors for cataracts, such as obesity, high blood pressure, and diabetes.
• Use protection: Wear sunglasses to protect yourself from ultraviolet rays throughout the year.

Maintaining a healthy diet is also important, as it helps the body get all the nutrients it needs to function properly. Pay special attention to foods that are rich in vitamin A, such as:

• Meat: Chicken and beef.
• Fruit: Avocados, apricots, peaches, mangoes, papayas, tomatoes.
• Nuts.
  
• Liver: From animals or cod.
• Legumes: Beans, chickpeas, peas.
• Dairy products: Cream, fortified milk, butter, cheese.
  
• Fish.
• Vegetables: Broccoli, pumpkin, asparagus, spinach, fennel, kale, lettuce, arugula, carrots.
  
• Egg yolks.

That is because vitamin A is a vital part of rhodopsin, a retinal pigment that is very sensitive to light. Vitamin A also increases the eye’s adaptability, primarily by enabling it to adjust to changes in light and keeping it moist, and is associated with a reduced risk of many vision disorders, such as age-related macular degeneration and cataracts.

Sources: American Academy of Ophthalmology; National Library of Medicine; Mayo Clinic; National Eye Institute.