{"id":10739,"date":"2021-04-13T07:08:55","date_gmt":"2021-04-13T07:08:55","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/?page_id=10739"},"modified":"2021-07-22T09:52:15","modified_gmt":"2021-07-22T09:52:15","slug":"cataracts-top-5-myths-and-facts","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-conditions\/guide-to-cataracts\/cataracts-top-5-myths-and-facts\/","title":{"rendered":"Cataracts: Top 5 Myths and Facts\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"<h2><b>Have you been told you have cataracts, but not sure about the myths and facts?<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Here are the top 5 myths and facts about <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/eye-conditions\/guide-to-cataracts\/cataract-faqs\/\">cataracts<\/a>.<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Cataracts result from the buildup of protein on the eye\u2019s normally clear\u00a0 lens, they cause cloudy, blurry vision, decreased color perception and eventually vision loss.<\/p>\n<p>Cataracts are one of the leading causes of blindness, affecting 20 million people worldwide. While most people have heard of cataracts,\u00a0 misconceptions abound.<\/p>\n<p>If you suspect you have cataracts,<a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/\"> <b>contact an eye doctor near you<\/b> <\/a>who can diagnose and manage this very common and sight-threatening eye condition.<\/p>\n<p><strong>SEE RELATED: <\/strong><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/eye-conditions\/guide-to-cataracts\/when-should-i-have-cataract-surgery\/\">When Should I Have Cataract Surgery?<\/a><\/p>\n\n\t<div class=\"practice-search-widget\">\n\t\t<h3>Find an eye doctor near you<\/h3>\n\t\t\n\t<form class=\"practice-search-form practice-search-form-widget\" action=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/results\/\" method=\"get\">\n\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"distance\" value=\"100\" class=\"practice-search-distance\">\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"page\" class=\"practice-search-page\">\n\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"address_latitude\"><input type=\"hidden\" name=\"address_longitude\">\n\n\t\t<input type=\"text\" name=\"address\" class=\"practice-search-address\" placeholder=\"City, Surburb or Address\" value=\"\">\n\n\t\t\n\t\t\t<input type=\"hidden\" name=\"distance\" value=\"100\" class=\"practice-search-distance\">\n\n\t\t\n\n\t\t<button type=\"submit\" class=\"practice-search-button\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<svg width=\"19\" height=\"19\" viewBox=\"0 0 19 19\" fill=\"none\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\"><path fill-rule=\"evenodd\" clip-rule=\"evenodd\" d=\"M10.6796 0.130005C9.15708 0.130059 7.66615 0.5646 6.38198 1.38258C5.09781 2.20057 4.07373 3.36803 3.43004 4.74783C2.78634 6.12763 2.54976 7.66246 2.74808 9.17205C2.9464 10.6816 3.57139 12.1033 4.54964 13.27L0.729639 17.08C0.6364 17.1732 0.562439 17.2839 0.511979 17.4058C0.461519 17.5276 0.435547 17.6581 0.435547 17.79C0.435547 17.9219 0.461519 18.0524 0.511979 18.1743C0.562439 18.2961 0.6364 18.4068 0.729639 18.5C0.917942 18.6883 1.17334 18.7941 1.43964 18.7941C1.5715 18.7941 1.70207 18.7681 1.82389 18.7177C1.94571 18.6672 2.0564 18.5932 2.14964 18.5L5.99964 14.62C7.35406 15.6038 8.98566 16.1324 10.6596 16.13C12.7814 16.13 14.8162 15.2871 16.3165 13.7869C17.8168 12.2866 18.6596 10.2517 18.6596 8.13C18.6596 6.00827 17.8168 3.97344 16.3165 2.47315C14.8162 0.97286 12.7814 0.130005 10.6596 0.130005H10.6796ZM10.6796 14.13C9.49295 14.13 8.33291 13.7781 7.34622 13.1188C6.35952 12.4595 5.59049 11.5225 5.13636 10.4261C4.68224 9.32975 4.56342 8.12335 4.79493 6.95946C5.02644 5.79558 5.59788 4.72648 6.437 3.88736C7.27611 3.04825 8.34521 2.4768 9.5091 2.24529C10.673 2.01378 11.8794 2.1326 12.9757 2.58673C14.0721 3.04085 15.0092 3.80989 15.6685 4.79658C16.3277 5.78328 16.6796 6.94332 16.6796 8.13C16.6796 9.7213 16.0475 11.2474 14.9223 12.3726C13.7971 13.4979 12.2709 14.13 10.6796 14.13Z\" fill=\"#fff\"\/><\/svg>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/button>\n\n\t\t<button type=\"button\" class=\"practice-search-use-my-location\">\n\t\t\tSearch near me\n\t\t<\/button>\n\n\n\t<\/form>\n\n\n\n\t\t<\/div>\n\n\t\n<h2><b>Myth 1: Only older people get cataracts<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Fact: People of all ages, even newborns, can have cataracts<\/strong>.<\/p>\n<p>Cataracts are a natural part of the aging process, and therefore affect the elderly more often than younger people. However, eye trauma and certain medications can also lead to cataracts. Some babies may be born with cataracts.<\/p>\n<h2><b>Myth 2: Cataracts are growths within the eye<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Fact: Cataracts aren\u2019t growths; rather, they\u2019re changes in the eye\u2019s natural lens.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p><a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/eye-conditions\/guide-to-cataracts\/cataract-faqs\/\">Cataracts<\/a> occur when the protein cells in the lens start to clump together and deteriorate, resulting in cloudiness. A person with cataracts will typically have cloudy vision with a yellow or brown tint.<\/p>\n<p>Other symptoms associated with cataracts include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Double vision<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Halos around lights<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Colors are perceived as faded or yellowed<\/li>\n<li style=\"font-weight: 400;\" aria-level=\"1\">Frequent changes in one\u2019s lens prescription<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>If you have experienced any of the following symptoms, <b>contact an eye doctor near you<\/b>.<\/p>\n<h2><b>Myth 3: To treat or reverse cataracts, change your lifestyle\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Fact: The only way to cure a cataract is with <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/eye-conditions\/guide-to-cataracts\/when-should-i-have-cataract-surgery\/\">surgery<\/a>.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>The surgery removes the cataract and implants a new clear lens. While healthy lifestyle choices such as regularly exercising, getting enough sleep and eating well can impact eye health and your overall health, it cannot cure cataracts.<\/p>\n<h2><b>Myth 4: There is no way to prevent cataracts<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Fact: While there is no clear cut way to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/eye-conditions\/guide-to-cataracts\/cataracts\/\">prevent cataracts<\/a>, wearing 100% UV blocking sunglasses outdoors can help.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>Another way to delay the onset of cataracts is to incorporate eye-healthy foods into your diet, like colorful vegetables and leafy greens.<\/p>\n<h2><b>Myth 5: If you have cataracts you need surgery right away\u00a0<\/b><\/h2>\n<p><strong>Fact: You only need to have <a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/eye-conditions\/guide-to-cataracts\/when-should-i-have-cataract-surgery\/\">cataract surgery<\/a> if your cataracts are interfering with your vision and impacting your lifestyle.\u00a0<\/strong><\/p>\n<p>If you are able to safely perform activities, such as driving at night, you don\u2019t necessarily need surgery right away. Have your eye doctor monitor your cataracts to determine if there is any cataract-related vision loss.<\/p>\n<p><strong>LEARN MORE:\u00a0<\/strong>\u00a0<a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/eye-conditions\/\">Guide to Eye Conditions<\/a><\/p>\n<p>The best way to manage cataracts is to<a href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/practice-search\/\"><b> schedule regular eye exams<\/b><\/a> with an eye doctor who has experience diagnosing and managing cataracts.<\/p>\n<p>The doctor will give you all the information you need to help you decide which treatment options are best for you.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Have you been told you have cataracts, but not sure about the myths and facts? Here are the top 5 myths and facts about cataracts.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":10740,"parent":12439,"menu_order":0,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","template":"template-article.php","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[132,84,114,242,388,228,126,168,147,142],"class_list":["post-10739","page","type-page","status-publish","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-acuity","tag-adults","tag-amblyopia","tag-cataract","tag-cataract-surgery","tag-cornea","tag-double-vision","tag-eye-doctor","tag-eye-exam","tag-vision"],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v23.9 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/wordpress\/plugins\/seo\/ -->\n<title>Cataracts: Top 5 Myths and Facts\u00a0 - Optometrists.org<\/title>\n<meta name=\"robots\" content=\"index, follow, max-snippet:-1, max-image-preview:large, max-video-preview:-1\" \/>\n<link rel=\"canonical\" href=\"https:\/\/www.optometrists.org\/general-practice-optometry\/guide-to-eye-conditions\/guide-to-cataracts\/cataracts-top-5-myths-and-facts\/\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:locale\" content=\"en_US\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:type\" content=\"article\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:title\" content=\"Cataracts: Top 5 Myths and Facts\u00a0 - Optometrists.org\" \/>\n<meta property=\"og:description\" content=\"Have you been told you have cataracts, but not sure about the myths and facts? 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