What are Cataracts?

Our eyes have an outer lens that bends and refracts light and helps us to see objects clearly. This lens lies just behind the iris and the pupil of the eye. When the lens is normal and healthy, it should be clear and see-through. When cataracts develop in the eye, the outer lens becomes cloudy. This cloudiness causes the vision to become hazy. To a person with cataracts, it may appear as if they are looking through a dusty window and objects appear to be a bit less colorful and vibrant. The blurry or dimming vision tends to get worse over time.

What Causes Cataracts?

Aging is the most common reason for the development of cataracts. The natural lens in front of the eye is made mostly of water and protein. As we age, the protein may clump together or simply experience chemical changes because of wear and tear. These protein clumps cause cloudy spots in the lens which makes the vision blurry. Cataracts can begin to develop in middle age but at this point, they don’t usually cause vision problems. It is around the age of 60 and beyond when the development of cataracts start to interfere with a person’s vision. Other conditions that may contribute to the development of cataracts include diabetes, smoking, overindulging in alcohol and too much exposure to ultraviolet sunlight.

How Can I Prevent Cataracts?

Most people will develop cataracts as they age. Although there are no studies that have proven there is a way to prevent cataracts, there are some things that doctors generally believe are helpful in slowing their progression. Making sure to get an eye exam regularly is probably one of the most important ways to keep eyes healthy and to make sure you get early detection if a problem does develop. Actions you can take to help stave off the development of cataracts for as long as possible include:

• Wearing sunglasses in bright sunlight
• Avoiding excess consumption of alcohol
• Quitting smoking
• Eating foods antioxidant-rich foods

How Eyes Over Copley Can Help

Our eye doctor in Boston, Dr. Patricia Fox, is a professional eye care specialist who can help you stay informed about proper eye care techniques and the best ways to keep your vision strong and healthy. Regular exams are the start of caring properly for your eyes but, sometimes, in spite of your best efforts, age, genetic factors or illness may throw you a curveball. If you’re experiencing problems with blurry vision or suspect that you may be developing cataracts, Dr. Fox can quickly examine and diagnose your condition so that you can get useful tips and any necessary treatments to help improve your condition as soon as possible.

New Patients

Our Optometrist is not only a highly skilled eye doctor but she is also passionate about keeping patients informed on how to improve the quality of their vision and prevent damage from cataracts or other illnesses that may affect the eyes. Our patients are important to us, and the New Patient Center on our website has all the information you need -- forms, payment options, contact information -- that will help to make your visits to us as convenient as possible.

Call Our Eye Doctor Near Boston Today!

Call our office anytime to ask questions or to schedule an appointment with our eye doctor near Boston. We look forward to meeting you and to welcoming you to our valued family of patients!