Cataract! What are they?

Did you know that Cataract is the world’s leading cause of blindness, accounting for approximately 42 percent of all cases of blindness in all nations?

 

A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye. For people who have cataracts, seeing through cloudy lenses is a bit like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. Clouded vision caused by cataracts can make it more difficult to read, drive a car (especially at night) or see the expression on a friend's face.

Most cataracts develop slowly and don't disturb your eyesight early on. But with time, cataracts will eventually interfere with your vision.

 

There are several underlying causes of cataracts. These include:

• An overproduction of oxidants, which are oxygen molecules that have been chemically altered due to normal daily life

• Smoking

• Ultraviolet radiation

• The long-term use of steroids and other medications

• Certain diseases, such as diabetes

• Trauma

 

 

A cataract is a cloudy lens. The lens is positioned behind the colored part of your eye (iris). The lens focuses light that passes into your eye, producing clear, sharp images on the retina — the light-sensitive membrane in the eye that functions like the film in a camera.

As you age, the lenses in your eyes become less flexible, less transparent and thicker. Age-related and other medical conditions cause proteins and fibers within the lenses to break down and clump together, clouding the lenses.

As the cataract continues to develop, the clouding becomes denser. A cataract scatters and blocks the light as it passes through the lens, preventing a sharply defined image from reaching your retina. As a result, your vision becomes blurred.

Cataracts generally develop in both eyes, but not always at the same rate. The cataract in one eye may be more advanced than the other, causing a difference in vision between eyes.

There are different types of cataracts. They’re classified based on where and how they develop in your eye.

• Nuclear cataracts form in the middle of the lens and cause the nucleus, or the center, to become yellow or brown.

• Cortical cataracts are wedge-shaped and form around the edges of the nucleus.

• Posterior capsular cataracts form faster than the other two types and affect the back of the lens.

• Congenital cataracts, which are present at birth or form during a baby’s first year, are less common than age-related cataracts.

• Secondary cataracts are caused by disease or medications. Diseases that are linked with the development of cataracts include glaucoma and diabetes. The use of the steroid prednisone and other medications can sometimes lead to cataracts.

• Traumatic cataracts develop after an injury to the eye, but it can take several years for this to happen.

 

However, no studies have proved how to prevent cataracts or slow the progression of cataracts. But doctors think several strategies may be helpful, including:

• Have regular eye examinations. Eye examinations can help detect cataracts and other eye problems at their earliest stages. Ask your doctor how often you should have an eye examination.

• Quit smoking. Ask your doctor for suggestions about how to stop smoking. Medications, counseling and other strategies are available to help you.

• Manage other health problems. Follow your treatment plan if you have diabetes or other medical conditions that can increase your risk of cataracts.

• Choose a healthy diet that includes plenty of fruits and vegetables. Adding a variety of colorful fruits and vegetables to your diet ensures that you're getting many vitamins and nutrients. Fruits and vegetables have many antioxidants, which help maintain the health of your eyes.

• Studies haven't proved that antioxidants in pill form can prevent cataracts. But a large population study recently showed that a healthy diet rich in vitamins and minerals was associated with a reduced risk of developing cataracts. Fruits and vegetables have many proven health benefits and are a safe way to increase the amount of minerals and vitamins in your diet.

• Wear sunglasses. Ultraviolet light from the sun may contribute to the development of cataracts. Wear sunglasses that block ultraviolet B (UVB) rays when you're outdoors.

• Reduce alcohol use. Excessive alcohol use can increase the risk of cataracts.