Near the front of the eye is the clear natural lens, which plays a part in focusing light entering the eye. As the lens ages, it hardens and turns cloudy, a formation called a cataract. Though cataract surgery easily corrects the condition, some people put off surgery or refuse surgery altogether. Understanding the complications of cataracts can help a patient make a more informed decision about treatment.
Vision Changes
The cataract will result in blurred vision that an eye doctor cannot fully correct with prescriptions eye glasses. Over time, reading, sewing and other close work will become difficult for a person with cataracts. If left alone, cataracts will gradually worsen, causing partial or complete blindness from the cloudiness of the lens.
In documented cases of blindness, cataracts account for almost half of all blindness world-wide, says The Fred Hollows Foundation. An eye examination will allow the doctor to determine the extent to which the cataract has affected vision. A person should pursue cataract surgery only if vision limits the performance of daily activities, says the National Eye Institute.
Glare
In a normal eye without a cataract, light enters through the clear front surface and passes through the clear lens. The light then focuses in the back of the eye producing good, clear vision. When cataracts disrupt the path of the light, the deposits that form the cataract causes the light to scatter. This often causes increased difficulty in driving at night due to the glare from headlights. A person with cataracts may likewise have difficulty with glare from normal room lighting and direct sunlight, says the National Eye Institute. Cataract surgery removes the hard deposits and provides a clear window through which light can enter the eye.
Angle Closure Glaucoma
Drainage canals are located in front of the natural lens, helping to maintain a balanced pressure inside the eye. In cases of severe cataracts, the thick lens may push forward, causing a blockage of the drainage canal, says the UK's Good Hope Hospital. When this occurs, the pressure inside the eye increases dramatically, causing severe pain, nausea and vomiting. Vision often decreases and the eye will likely appear red. Doctors call this condition angle closure glaucoma, and the eye must have immediate treatment to prevent damage to the eye.
To treat the condition, the doctor may prescribe oral medication to help lower the eye pressure and put a number of eye drops in the eye. When the pressure stabilizes and the doctor evaluates the eye, he will likely recommend cataract surgery to prevent loss of vision.
