The Facts about Cataracts
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According to the National Eye Institute (NEI), ʺby age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery.ʺ Generally cataract patients are 55 years or older.
However, there are cases of younger people having cataracts. For example, a very close family friend had cataract surgery in his late 30’s to remove a cataract.
The American Optometric Association states, ʺA cataract is a cloudy or opaque area in the normally clear lens of the eye.ʺ
Cataract symptoms may include the following:
• Cloudy, blurry or hazy vision
• Frequent prescription changes in your eyeglasses or contact lenses
• Poor night vision or increased difficulty seeing at night
• Increased sensitivity to headlights or sunlight, a halo around headlights
• Colors seem less intense or faded
• Multiple images in one eye or double vision
• Change in the eye's refractive error
Also, there are several types of cataracts according to the NEI. Those types include:
• Congenital cataract
• Radiation cataract
• Secondary cataract
• Traumatic cataract
A congenital cataract affects newborns and young children. For additional information on the above cataracts, go to the NEI website at http://www.nei.nih.gov/health/cataract/cataract_facts.asp.
A cataract removal though an operation generally occurs if the cataract interferes with your vision. Otherwise, your doctor may recommend the following:
• Magnifying glasses
• New eyeglass prescription
• Brighter lighting
• Anti-glare sunglasses
The NEI claims cataract surgery is one of the most common surgeries in the United States and more than 90 percent of cataract surgery patients have better vision after the surgery.
According to a 2010 study commissioned by AllAboutVision.com, cataract surgery in the United States costs approximately $3,279 per eye. If your cataract surgery is medically necessary, Medicare may cover the costs.
Also, there are two types of cataract surgery. The cataract operations are called extracapsular surgery or phacoemulsification (phaco) surgery. Phaco surgery is the most common cataract surgery. Both procedures take less than one hour.
We value and respect the experiences of all of our HERWriters, but everyone is different. Many of our writers are speaking from personal experience, and what's worked for them may not work for you. Their articles are not a substitute for medical advice although we hope you can gain knowledge from their insight.
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