A cataract is clouding of the lens of the eye that causes blurred vision.
Symptoms of cataract-
Common signs and symptoms of cataract include:
Clouded, blurred or dim vision
Increasing difficulty with vision at night
Sensitivity to light and glare
Seeing "halos" around lights
Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescription
Fading or yellowing of colors
Double vision in a single eye
In the initial stage the cloudiness in the vision may affect only a small part of the eye and the patient may not notice any vision loss. As the cataract grows larger, it clouds the larger part of the lens and distorts the light passing through it. This may leads to various signs and symptoms.
Causes of cataract-
Most of the cataracts develop when ageing or injury changes the tissue that makes up the eye lens. Some of the cataracts are caused by genetic disorders.
How cataract develops
The lens is positioned behind the colored part of the eye. This lens focuses light that passes into the eye, producing clear, sharp images on the retina which is the light sensitive membrane on the back inside of the wall of the eyeball that functions like a film of a camera. A cataract scatters the light as it passes through the lens preventing a sharply defined image from reaching the retina. This leads to blurred vision.
As the age increases, the lens in the eye becomes flexible less transparent and thicker. This can cause tissue to break down and clump together, clouding on areas of the lens. As the cataract develops, clouding becomes more and cause blurred vision.
A cataract can develop in one or both of the eyes.
Types of cataracts include:
Nuclear cataracts- Cataracts that affect the center of the lens
Cortical cataract- Cataracts that affect the edges of the lens
Posterior subcapsular cataracts- Cataracts that affect the back of the lens
Pongenital cataracts- Cataracts from birth
Treatment of cataract
The only treatment option available for cataract is surgery.
When to consider cataract surgery
Take consultation of the eye specialist about when to consider the surgery. Most of the doctors suggest taking the surgery when cataract starts to affect the quality of life or interfere with the ability to perform normal activities such reading or driving at night. It completely depends on the choice of the doctor and the patient to decide about taking the surgery.
In case the patient chooses not to undergo cataract surgery for now, the doctor may suggest follow up exams to keep a check on the cataract.
Surgery
The surgery involves removing the cloudiness and replacing it with a plastic lens implant. The replacement lens gets fixed in the same place as the natural lens and becomes part of the eye. In case the replacement cell cannot be used, then the cataract is removed and the vision is corrected with eye glasses.
Cataract surgery is usually done on one eye at a time. It is done on outpatient basis. This means that there is no need to stay in the hospital after the surgery. Local anesthesia is used to numb the area around the eye before the surgery.
Cataract surgery is safe but carries a risk of infection and bleeding. It also increases the risk of retinal detachment