A quick chat about cataracts

Vikas Gulati, M.D.

• Cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss among adults 55 and older; and
  
• More than half all people older than 65 have some degree of cataract development?

Cataracts are caused by age-related degeneration of lens fibers in the human lens, which cloud the lens and hinder vision.

In recognition of August as National Cataract Awareness Month, Vikas Gulati, M.D., assistant professor of ophthalmology and visual sciences, answers a few questions about cataracts.

What can be done to prevent cataracts?

Unfortunately, nothing presently can be done to prevent cataracts. They are naturally-occurring in all people and their rate of progression varies greatly from person to person. Some people develop cataracts when they are in their 40s while others will live into their 90s and do not develop cataracts. Researchers, including UNMC’s Toshimichi Shinohara, Ph.D., are looking into ways to prevent and slow the progression of cataracts, but to this point no proven methods have been developed.

The only treatment is a surgical procedure in which the hazy lens is replaced by a plastic lens implant. It’s an outpatient procedure that is done in 15 to 30 minutes and the implants will last for life.

How does one determine when to have surgery?

Basically a patient decides when to have the surgery. Whenever an individual feels that their vision is inadequate for their needs, they can go ahead with the elective cataract surgery.