Will I get cataracts when I am older?

If we live long enough, each and everyone of us will develop some form of cataract. Cataracts are a yellowing or opacification of the crystalline lens inside our eyes.

The crystalline lens functions much like the lens of a 35mm camera. Depending on the distance the object is away from the eye, the lens must make an adjustment to keep that object in focus.

In its "normal" state, the lens of our eye is transparent. However, several things can affect its transparency, including such things as age, ultraviolet light, diabetes, trauma, and medications, to name a few.

In the early stages of yellowing or opacification, changes in one's eyeglass prescription can improve a patient's sight. However, over time, the density of the opacification becomes too great and the only way to restore vision is to surgically remove the crystalline lens. Phacoemulsification is the modern technique to accomplish this task. This procedure utilizes ultrasound to break up the cataract and suction it out of the eye. An interocular lens (IOL) is inserted in the eye to take the place of the natural lens that was removed. The patient can't feel it and it does not need to be cleaned.

It's important to keep in mind that the vast majority of all cataracts pose no health threat to the eye. Cataracts most likely will only limit vision for as long as they remain in the eye.

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