Cataract

Age-related cataracts may initiate between 40 and 50 years old.

Most cataracts develop when aging or injury changes the tissue that makes up the eye's lens. That is when normal proteins in the lens start to break down. This is what causes the lens to get cloudy. Some inherited genetic disorders that cause other health problems can increase your risk of cataracts.

You mostly need surgery when blurry vision and other symptoms of a cataract start to interfere with daily activities like reading or driving. There is no drug or eye drop to prevent or treat cataracts. To remove them is the only treatment.

The only treatment for cataracts is surgery to remove them. If your child's cataract is small and doesn't affect their vision, it may not need to be removed. If it does affect their eyesight, it should be removed as soon as possible.

Congenital cataract constitutes an emergency. The brain learns to see with the macula (the center of the retina where 20/20 vision is possible) most rapidly during the first 3 to 4 months of life. If vision is severely limited during this critical period of visual development, it cannot be restored completely.

At present, there's no way to get rid of cataracts without cataract surgery.

Pediatric cataract is a leading cause of childhood blindness. Untreated cataracts in children lead to tremendous social, economical, and emotional burden to the child, family, and society. Blindness related to pediatric cataract can be treated with early identification and appropriate management.

Some patients see well just a few days after cataract surgery but generally full healing can take up to three months.

Clouded, Spotty, and Double Vision.

Most patients are able to resume driving 24 hours after cataract surgery. However, this completely depends on the individual patient.

Cataract surgery is not painful. While patients are awake during surgery, there is little or no discomfort involved. A mild sedative may be administered before the surgery, which calms the nerves, and eye drops are used to numb the eye.