The average person over the age of 40 will end up suffering vision loss from developing cataracts—the leading cause of blindness around the world. The number of glaucoma, macular degeneration, and diabetic retinopathy cases around the world combined don’t come close to matching the amount of cataract cases.

There are three types of cataracts that can develop:

• Subcapsular Cataracts: Occurring at the back of the lens. Subcapsular cataracts are most common developed in people who have diabetes or are regularly taking high doses of steroid medications.
• Nuclear Cataracts: Formed deep in the nucleus of the lens. This type of cataract is generally associated with aging.
• Cortical Cataracts: These tend to occur in the lens cortex—a part of the lens that encompasses the central nucleus. This type of cataract is generally known for its opaque wedge shapes that begin forming in the periphery of the lens and gradually move in towards the center.

As it stands right now, more than 22 million Americans, age 40 and older, are suffering from cataracts of some form. According to Prevent Blindness America (PBA) this number is expected to grow to as many as 30 million Americans by the year 2020!

To put it simply, cataracts are when your eye’s natural lens begins to cloud. Here are some early warning signs you might want to be on the lookout for if you are age 40 and above:

Simply put, what we refer to as a cataract is when your eyes natural lens begins to cloud. Here are some early warning signs to keep a lookout for when you are over the age of 40:

• Vision beginning to blur slightly
• Light sensitivity
• Increasing levels of glare from oncoming headlights when driving at night
• Colors appear to be dull
• Seeing “halos” around light sources
• Double vision in one of your eyes

Not all types of cataracts show symptoms of vision loss right away, in fact, in some rare cases patients developing cataracts can have temporarily increased vision. Cataracts develop slowly and take some time to cause dramatic losses in vision.

If you believe you are beginning to develop a cataract, make sure to set up an appointment immediately so we can be sure, and begin planning your treatment.