With the formation of a cataract, activities
like reading, bowling, or driving can be difficult. Fortunately, vision can be
restored quickly, allowing the patient to return home within a few hours. With
new advances in cataract surgery, vision improvement begins almost
immediately, and an eye patch isn't even
needed.
So What is a Cataract? A
Cataract is the
clouding of the lens of the eye. (See above animation) Normally, light passes
through the clear lens and is focused onto the Retina. However, the natural
aging process can cause the lens to become cloudy. The Cataract or cloudy lens
blocks the passage of light through the eye and causes distorted or blurred
vision, glare, or difficulty seeing in poor lighting
conditions.
Cataract surgery is the most common
operation in the world. In the United States, more than 2.7 million procedures
are performed annually. (National Institutes of Health)
There are
20.5 million cases of early cataracts among Americans aged 40 and older, and
50 percent of people older than 65 have developed significant cataracts.
(National Institutes of Health)
