When viewing an object, light rays travel through your eye’s lens to produce a clear image on the retina. With a cataract, the light is scattered throughout the eye instead of creating a clear focus on the retina.
Although many risk factors are present for cataracts, aging is considered the most prevalent cause. When you reach 40, normal aging eye changes occur that includes proteins that naturally occur in the lens to begin breaking down. The lens then becomes cloudy. This is a normal process and may take a few years for vision to deteriorate as changes occur gradually.
Other forms of cataracts may develop faster, e.g. diabetic cataracts. Unfortunately, doctors are unable to predict how fast a cataract will develop but it is recommended to have it regularly examined, even if it is only in the beginning stages.
Protection against progression of cataracts
Protection against harmful ultraviolet (UV) light rays from the sun is extremely important. Wearing sunglasses or having an anti-UV coating on your spectacles will provide the necessary protection.
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