June is ‘Cataract Awareness Month,’ established to raise awareness of the risks of cataracts and the importance of early screening. Experts advise that cataracts are a common eye disease among older adults and are easy to dismiss as simple presbyopia, so it is important to confirm eye health through accurate examinations.

A cataract is a condition in which the lens inside the eye becomes cloudy, making objects appear blurred as if covered by fog. The lens focuses light like a camera lens, and when it loses transparency due to aging, disease, or trauma, vision declines. In general, about 70% of those aged 60 or older and about 90% of those aged 70 or older are known to experience cataracts.

Hwang Hyeong-bin, a professor of ophthalmology at Incheon St. Mary's Hospital of The Catholic University of Korea, said, “Because cataracts mostly progress slowly with aging, many people do not notice symptoms in the early stage,” and added, “If decreased vision or glare keeps recurring, do not dismiss it as simple presbyopia, and get a proper examination.”

The most common cause of cataracts is aging. Eye diseases such as diabetes and uveitis, injury, excessive ultraviolet exposure, smoking, and heavy drinking can also play a role. Long-term use of steroid medications can increase the risk as well. In rare cases, cataracts occur congenitally. Hwang explained, “Beyond aging, various systemic diseases and lifestyle factors can affect cataracts,” adding, “People with diabetes or those who use steroid medications for a long time need regular eye examinations to check for changes in vision.”

The hallmark symptom is decreased visual acuity. Things may look hazy, glare may worsen in bright environments, and some find their vision more uncomfortable at night. Occasionally, monocular diplopia occurs, in which objects appear doubled even when viewed with one eye. As cataracts progress, myopia can temporarily worsen, making nearby text appear easier to read than before.

Diagnosis is made by dilating the pupils and then performing a slit-lamp microscope examination to identify the location and degree of lens opacity. If needed, additional tests, such as retinal examination, are used to evaluate accompanying conditions.

Whether to treat depends on symptom severity and the degree of inconvenience in daily life. In early cases, many are observed without definitive treatment. However, if decreased vision causes difficulty in everyday activities, surgery can be performed to remove the clouded lens and implant an artificial intraocular lens. In the absence of specific problems, the implanted intraocular lens can be used semi-permanently.

Hwang said, “Because the speed of progression and symptoms vary by individual, cataracts should not be neglected as if they were simply presbyopia,” and emphasized, “Regular ophthalmic examinations are important to determine the appropriate timing of treatment.”