Does everyone get cataracts if they live long enough?

Cataracts are a part of the natural aging process. If you live long enough, you will eventually develop cataracts. The eyes mainly consist of water and protein. As we grow older, some of the protein may form chunks and cloud a certain area of the eyes lens.

Is cataract inevitable?

Most doctors agree that cataracts are inevitable, but there are interventions which can delay their progression, and consequently, the need for surgery. The centuries-old saying, prevention is better than cure, is as valid for cataract as for any other disease.

Can you go blind if cataracts are not removed?

Over time, cataracts become worse and start to interfere with vision. Important skills can be affected, such as driving, and loss of vision can affect the overall quality of life in many ways including reading, working, hobbies and sports. If left untreated, cataracts will eventually cause total blindness.

What does life look like with cataracts?

Cataract sufferers will often experience nighttime vision anomalies such as glare, halos and starbursts around lights. Cataracts can also make life less vivid, in a very literal sense. Colors seem dull and faded, and may take on a yellowish tint. The world around you begins to resemble a musty, sepia-toned photograph.

Do some people never develop cataracts?

Like presbyopia, cataracts are primarily an age-related eye condition. They usually do not start to form until you are in your 60s. In fact, some people do not develop cataracts until they are well into their 80s. However, they can develop at a much younger age.

What percentage of adults get cataracts?

By age 65, more than 90 percent of people in the United States will develop cataracts. Cataracts occur when the lens in your eye becomes cloudy from natural proteins that build up over time. As the condition progresses, the clouded lens allows less light to pass through your eye, creating blurry vision.

What is the prognosis of cataracts?

What is the prognosis of cataracts? The rate of progression of cataracts is usually predictable and surgery is successful in restoring vision in a large majority of cases. If other diseases are present within the eye, the degree of visual improvement will be limited by the other disease process.

How can I prevent my cataracts from getting worse?

5 ways to keep cataracts from getting worse

1. Have regular eye exams.
2. Watch your blood sugars if you have diabetes.
3. Stop smoking.
4. Reduce alcohol consumption.
5. Eat a balanced diet.
6. Wear sunglasses.

How fast do cataracts progress?

Most age-related cataracts can progress gradually over a period of years. It is not possible to predict exactly how fast cataracts will develop in any given person. Some cataracts, especially in younger people and people with diabetes, may progress rapidly over a short time.

How do people live with cataracts without surgery?

But some healthy lifestyle practices that may be helpful include:

1. Have regular eye examinations. This way, you can detect and treat eye problems earlier.
2. Stop smoking, reduce alcohol use and manage health problems.
3. Eat fruits and vegetables.
4. Wear sunglasses.

Are my cataracts bad enough to require surgery?

If you are noticing vision problems and have been told you have cataracts, it’s likely your cataracts are bad enough to require surgery. In some cases, people experience bothersome vision problems such as glare and halos at night even before their eye doctor notices significant clouding…

How do cataracts affect your vision?

But as cataracts grow, they can cause changes in your vision. For example, you may notice that: These symptoms can be a sign of other eye problems, too. Be sure to talk to your eye doctor if you have any of these problems. Over time, cataracts can lead to vision loss.

What are cataracts and how can they be treated?

Most cataracts are age-related — they happen because of normal changes in your eyes as you get older. But you can get cataracts for other reasons — for example, after an eye injury or after surgery for another eye problem (like glaucoma). No matter what type of cataract you have, the treatment is always surgery. Did you know?

How common are cataracts in older adults?

Cataracts are very common as you get older. In fact, more than half of all Americans age 80 or older either have cataracts or have had surgery to get rid of cataracts. At first, you may not notice that you have a cataract.