Most people not involved in extremely demanding visual tasks would not notice these changes until the lens material is significantly altered. The point at which we notice these changes is when we refer to the lens as having cataracts. We have come to understand that there are nutritional, dietary and environmental factors which may contribute to the severity and onset of these changes. It appears that exposure to ionizing radiation, ultraviolet light, systemic diseases such as diabetes and certain medications including oral corticosteroids like prednisone may play a role in the aging of our eyes. Trauma to the eye, such as might result from of a head injury or an object striking the eyeball can cause cataracts.
Cataract surgery is one of the most common and successful medical procedures in the world today.
The tired, old and yellowed crystalline lens is removed and replaced by a new clear plastic model. The new lens, called an implant, is fixed focus, either for distance or near. Some people even choose to have one eye set for far and the other for near, called monovision, which eliminates the need for eyeglasses altogether. These special implants are currently available in some countries and may be a routine product in a few years. Return to the topic list at the top of the page.