Understanding Cataracts and Their Risks

Cataracts

• Cataract is a clouding of the natural lens of your eye.
• Cataracts may or may not affect your vision.
• Cataracts may affect one or both eyes.
• The leading cause of blindness worldwide.
• More common among African Americans of both genders and at all ages.
• The leading cause of visual impairment for African Americans, Americans of Latino descent, and those of European descent.

Risk Factors

• Cigarette smoking
• Diabetes
• Excessive exposure to sunlight
• Long-term corticosteroid use
• Previous eye surgery
• Eye trauma

Types

• Nuclear Cataracts: centered in the lens, linked to nearsightedness, progresses slowly.
• Cortical Cataracts: located on the outer edges of the lens, appear uneven, produce glare symptoms.
• Subcapsular Cataracts: form at the back of the lens, can be linked to glaucoma and corticosteroid use, progress more quickly.

Physical Exam

• Gradual painless vision loss that gets worse over time
• May not have symptoms
• May present with visual changes and/or difficulty performing daily tasks.
• Eye exam includes:
  • Checking for lens opacity
  • Vision testing
  • Extraocular movement testing
  • Pupillary size measurement
  • Light reactivity testing

Diagnostics

• Ophthalmologist performs:
  • Visual acuity testing
  • Refraction testing
  • Intraocular pressure measurement
  • Dilated eye exam
  • Fundus exam
  • Glare testing
  • Contrast sensitivity testing

Differential

• Refractive Error