Cateracts

General Information

Cataracts are areas of clouding or opacity in the lens of the eye. If they are large enough or are located strategically in the visual path, they may reduce visual acuity. Although some cataracts that form are not part of the aging process and may occur at any age, there are cataracts that come with growing old. The first of the age-related changes may begin as early as age 40. The speed with which cataracts develop and their extent remain highly variable from person to person. The development of cataracts often causes a problem with glare.

Important Points in Treatment
The treatment of cataracts is by surgical removal of the clouded lens and its replacement, usually with a lens implant. As with all surgery, there are risks and complications. When the visual clouding caused by the cataract outweighs the risks, surgery may be necessary. Risk factors include other eye diseases; also, other health problems may preclude surgery. Your physician will help you sort through these risks in a meaningful fashion. Cataract surgery may be an outpatient or short-stay procedure.

Notify Our Office If

• Glare is unusually bothersome. The development of cataracts often causes a problem with glare.

GLARE

General Information
Any bright light shining into the eye causes glare and reduces visual acuity. Changes that occur in the eye as it ages allow glare to occur more easily. As one grows older, it is not uncommon for small opacities to develop in the eye, particularly on the lens. These are small cataracts. These often are too small to cause any visual impairment, but when light shines directly into the eye, the opacities can cause the light to scatter, much as motes of dust in the air scatter a beam of sunlight. It is scattered light that causes glare.

Glare is usually a problem at night, especially when one is driving. In the dark, the pupil of the eye dilates, exposing more of the lens in the eye for the passage of light. This increases the chances of light hitting the opacities and then scattering. Oncoming headlights can cause blinding flashes of light that can affect the ability to see.

Important Points in Treatment
If you have good visual acuity except when facing bright lights, there is little that can be done. Not looking directly into oncoming lights will help, but if the glare is severe, avoiding night driving may be the only prudent solution.

A few patients suffer daytime problems with glare. This is usually a result of a larger opacity located more centrally in the light path through the eye. Again, these opacities may not be severe enough to impair vision unless a bright light is shining into the eye.

Daytime glare is a more difficult problem to manage. Wearing sunglasses often helps. Management with drugs to contract the pupil should be under the direction of an ophthalmologist.

The caregiver should ensure that light is even and from multiple sources so that the patient gets adequate light levels without glare. Curtains or blinds should be adjusted to diffuse sunlight and to prevent direct illumination. Shiny surfaces, waxed floors, and reflective fixtures all look attractive but add to the problem of glare.

Notify Our Office If

• You have particular problem with glare at night, or glare is a complaint while driving at night.