What is a Cataract? | Types | Symptoms| causes | Treatment

One of the most common eye problems of old age people. If your lens becomes cloudy and foggy then it is known as a cataract. It develops slowly over time by causing symptoms like blur vision.

What is a Cataract?

Medical term

Any opacity of the lens or its capsule is known as a cataract.

The lens of your eyes, which becomes cloudy and foggy is known as a cataract.

Our eye to see, light passing through a lens. And the lens is behind our iris(color part of our eye). The lens focuses the light so, that our brain and eye can work together to process information into a picture. when our lens is covered by a cataract cloud our eye can't focus light in the same way. And this might lead blur vision or vision loss.

Who gets cataracts?

Most people start getting cataracts after the age of 40. But at the early stage, you might not notice any symptoms.

"Most common" if you have any disease like diabetes, hypertension, thyroid, etc, for a long period of time.

Rarely, newborn babies can also get cataracts due to birth defects.

And the cataract can be developed:

1. If you smoke cigarettes
2. Living in an area of pollution
3. Taking alcohol heavily
4. Having a family history of cataract

How common are cataracts?

Cataracts are most common among old people. More than 50% of 70 years old people are suffering from cataracts. Or people suffering from other diseases like diabetes, hypertension, thyroid, etc are also common to have cataracts.

 Causes of cataract

1. People with diabetes, hypertension, thyroid, etc 
2. Taking steroid medication to treat diseases like Arthritis and lupus
3. Eye injuries
4. Radiation therapy
5. Direct sunlight to your eyes

Symptoms of cataract

1. You might get cloudy, foggy, or blur vision 
2. Photophobia (sensitivity to light)
3. Double vision
4. Poor night vision
5. A sudden change of vision
6. Needabright light to read

Types of cataract

Nuclear cataract (that affects the center of the lens)

In the first stage of nuclear cataract, you may notice nearsightedness or even temporary improvement in your vision. But with time the lens gradually turns more densely yellow and you will notice the cloudy vision

Cortical cataract (that affects the edges of the lens)

Cortical cataracts start with whitish, wedge-shaped opacities or streaks on the outer edge of the lens cortex. As it is slow in progress, the streaks extend to the center and interfere with light passing through the center of the lens.

Posterior subcapsular cataract (that affects the back of the lens)

It begins with forms near the back of the lens. It interferes with reading vision, reduces vision in bright light, and causes halos around light at night. These types of cataracts progress faster than others types.

Congenital cataract (cataract you're born with)

Some babies are born with or develop cataracts during childhood. These may be genetic or intrauterine infections or trauma. This cataract can also be due to certain conditions:

1. Myotonic dystrophy
2. Galactosemia
3. Neurofibromatosis type 2
4. Rubella

These cataracts don't always affect vision, but they are usually removed soon after detection.

Is cataract painful?

Not really, usually, cataracts don't hurt. But may feel discomfort which makes your eyes more sensitive to light.

Diagnosis

If you get cataract symptoms then visit your eye doctor (ophthalmologist). Your doctor will dilate your pupil with special drops which widen your pupil to see inside your eye. so, that your doctor comes to know the problem with your eye.

How is a cataract treated?

If you have mild symptoms of cataracts, your doctor will prescribe glasses or contact lenses. Usually, cataracts worsen over time,  your doctor will recommend surgery to remove your cataract.

At What stage cataract is the removed?

Most people remove their cataracts at the last stage when they get problems like vision loss or difficulty in reading.

How are cataracts removed?

During surgery, the surgeon will remove your cataract lens and replace a new artificial lens. The lens is shaped to fit in your eye and personalized your vision needs. It normally takes an hour. And it is done by local anesthesia (medication to numb a specific area).

Types of surgery

Phacoemulsification

It is the most common procedure for cataracts. Your surgeon will make a small opening in your eye to reach the cataract lens. By using high sounds frequency waves (ultrasound)or a laser, your surgeon breaks your lens into a pieces. Then your doctor suction lens fragments and put a new artificial lens.

Extracapsular

This procedure is only if Phacoemulsification is not a good option for you.

In extracapsular, your doctor will make a large opening in your eye instead f breaking the lens into pieces. your doctor will remove it in one piece. And then your doctor inserts the manufactured lens.

What can I expect after surgery?

1. Itching
2. Mild discomfort
3. watery eye
4. photophobia
5. Blur vision

For few weeks after surgery, you have to use eye drops and dark goggles. It will help you to heal, prevent infection and control the pressure inside your eye. During these weeks you have to avoid:

1. Touching your eyes
2. Bending over
3. lifting heavy things
4. Doing risk work that can injure your eye.

Your eye will heal within eight weeks. But you can do daily activities as soon as the day after surgery.

Can cataracts be prevented?

Without surgery, it can't be prevented but you can take some steps to protect your eye and slow the process

1. Use sunglasses when you are out to protect your eye
2. Quit smoking
3. Get regular eye check-up. Your eye should be dilated once every year after 55. Surgery will be easier if you treat it soon.

written by Barsha Panth