Cataract ? Causes, Symptoms and Treatment

Millions of people all over the world are suffering from cataract, which is one of the reasons causing blindness. Cataract is a condition in which opacity is developed in lens of the eye because of an opaque area. Normally, adults who have crossed 40 year of age face the problem of cataract in their eyes.

Millions of people all over the world are suffering from cataract, which is one of the reasons causing blindness. Cataract is a condition in which opacity is developed in lens of the eye because of an opaque area. Normally, adults who have crossed 40 year of age face the problem of cataract in their eyes. Aging, over-exposure to sunlight, excessive smoking, some problems and diseases related to eyes or metabolic diseases such as diabetes, poor nutrition (less use of nutritious food elements important for eye), use of some medications etc. are some of the possible risk factors/causes of cataract.

A cataract is a clouding of the eye''s lens that can cause vision problems. The most common type is related to aging. More than half of all Americans age 65 and older have a cataract. In the early stages, stronger lighting and eyeglasses may lessen vision problems caused by cataracts. At a certain point, however, surgery may be needed to improve vision. Today, cataract surgery is safe and very effective.

The lens is positioned near the front of the eyeball. It is protected by the cornea, which covers the front of the eyeball. The purpose of the lens is to focus the light waves that enter the eye. Muscles around the lens can change the shape of the lens. In this way, objects both close at hand and far away can be brought into focus.

Cataract is a cloudy or opaque area in the lens of the eye. Cataract is a clouding of the eye''s natural lens, which lies behind the iris and the pupil. The lens works much like a camera lens, focusing light onto the retina at the back of the eye. The lens also adjusts the eye''s focus, letting us see things clearly both up close and far away. Most cataracts are related to aging. Cataracts are very common in older people. Cataract can occur in either or both eyes. It cannot spread from one eye to the other. Cataracts may be present at or shortly after birth.

Causes
Adult cataracts usually develop with advancing age and may run in families. Cataracts develop more quickly in the presence of some environmental factors, such as smoking or exposure to other toxic substances. They may develop at any time after an eye injury. Metabolic diseases such as diabetes also greatly increase the risk for cataracts. Certain medications, such as cortisone, can also accelerate cataract formation.

Symptoms
The first sign of cataract is blurred vision. The patient finds it difficult to see things in focus. As the disease progresses, the patient may get double vision or spots, or both. At first, vision in twilight may be better than in full daylight since light is admitted round the more widely-dilated pupil in the dark. In the advanced stage, objects and persons may appear as mere blobs of light, and there is a greyish-white discoloration in the pupil.

Treatment
Cataract removal surgery is a simple, safe and often effective procedure for treating cataracts. Surgery is the only treatment for removing cataracts causing clouded lenses. Normally your doctor will remove the clouded lens, replacing it with an implant.

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