What Cataract Surgery is Available? by Kathryn Dawson

The eyes are a very important part of our body, but just like everything else they can "age". Typically when eyes age the lens becomes opaque or cloudy which affects the person's overall sight. The cloudy lenses are called cataracts. The good news is that there are ways to prevent cataracts from developing and there are also ways to treat them once they have developed. This article discusses how to prevent them, how to slow them down and finally, how to treat them.

In order to make sure that you are not prone to cataracts as you age, you need to look after your health from the start. Although it may seem strange that getting plenty of exercise will help keep your eyes healthy and strong, it does. If you have a healthy body then this will impact all areas of it, including your eye health. This means you need to eat a diet that is rich in fruit and vegetables, lean white meat, fish and whole grains. For good eye health in your twilight years you need to say goodbye to junk food and fizzy drinks. Make sure in particular you stock up on carrots and leafy green vegetables like cabbage and kale. Although you may prefer to eat unhealthy food now, you will thank your lucky stars later on in life when you are free from ill health and poor eyesight.

Aside from diet, plenty of exercise is necessary. This means at least 30 minutes per day of gentle to moderate exercise. Whether it is pumping away at the gym or doing a spot of gardening, exercising regularly (ideally daily) is an important component of the health of our body. Research carried out also suggests that a variety of other lifestyle factors can affect the onslaught of cataracts. Smoking and drinking can cause cataracts to develop more quickly as can excessive uv exposure. Furthermore, when the eye is exposed to a trauma (such as a kick) this can cause cataracts to develop if there were not already present or worsen if they were already present. Anyone who has a family with a history of cataracts are also more susceptible to developing them, and even though they tend to occur in those aged 55 or over, young people can get them too. Anyone with diabetes or kidney disease should pay close attention to their eye health as they are particularly likely to contract problems such as cataracts.

If you do have cataracts then there is help at hand. You do not have to wait until your eyesight has completely gone either. Management of the condition can be done with glasses or contact lenses. This is the way many choose to deal with them. There are also effective eye drops available that may help. Ideally in order for medication such as this to work, the cataracts need to be diagnosed very early on in their development which means that regular eye check ups are essential.

There is a further step that can be taken to be rid of them altogether. Cataract surgery is quick and painless and can be carried out on an outpatient basis. Using ultrasound energy, the surgeon can make an incision on the surface of the eye and through this can remove the affected "cloudy" lens and replace it with an artificial one. This provides an instant return of sight to the patient.

There is no doubt that cataract surgery is extremely effective and can provide improved eyesight for those suffering from cataracts. The surgery can be carried out at your local eye hospital and is done by an ophthalmologist, a fully trained and licensed eye surgeon. It is quick and safe and the perfect solution for anyone wishing to be rid of cataracts for good.