Q: I am 41 and have been working in a cardiac catheterization lab for over 10 years. I know I get some radiation because of this, and although I take all of the necessary precautions, I am worried that I may have developed cataracts. I know these usually occur in older people, but I know radiation affects the eyes as many of the doctors wear lead glasses. I have frequent blurry vision, and I have been having trouble driving at night recently, and see rings around the lights at night. Does this sound like cataracts? Am I too young for cataracts? Thanks.
A: Great questions! You are completely correct that radiation can have an affect on your eyes, and frequently will cause cataracts to become more severe at a younger age with significant radiation exposure. As you may know, cataracts occur when the lens of your eye becomes cloudy, it can even be visible to other people when is gets severe enough. Although you are younger than the usual age for cataracts, they can start to appear after age 40, and as we said, radiation could play a role. By age 80, 50% of people will have a cataract that is bad enough for surgery. You should go see an eye doctor who will test for other issues, and will tell you immediately if you have a significant cataract.
Video:Â http://www.videomd.com/The-Truth-About-Cataracts-fv-7476.aspx
Best,
Dean
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