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Cataract is a clouding of the lens or any opacity within the lens which leads to a decrease in vision.
Also read what is therapeutic optometry?
cataract definition
Normal crystalline lens is a transparent structure. Any opacity in the lens or its capsule is called a cataract.
Symptoms
Signs and symptoms of cataracts include:
- Clouded, blurred or dim vision
- Increasing difficulty with vision at night
- Sensitivity to light and glare
- Need for brighter light for reading and other activities
- Seeing “halos” around lights
- Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescription
- Fading or yellowing of colors
- Double vision in a single eye
How do you classify cataracts?
Etiological classification of cataract:
I. Congenital and developmental cataract
II. Acquired cataract
- Senile cataract
- Traumatic cataract
- Complicated cataract
- Metabolic cataract
- Electric cataract
- Radiational cataract
- Toxic cataract, e.g.,
a. Corticosteroid-induced cataract
b. Miotics-induced cataract
c. Copper-induced and iron-induced cataracts
(in chalcosis and siderosis respectively). - Cataract associated with skin diseases
(dermatogenic cataract). - Cataract associated with osseous diseases.
- Cataract associated with miscellaneous syndromes e.g.,
- Dystrophic myotonica
- Down’s syndrome.
The treatment of cataracts is :
- Glasses
- Better lighting
- Surgery
a. Phacoemulsification
b. ECCE
c. ICCE (not performed now)
Sometimes a cataract should be removed even if it doesn’t cause major problems with vision, if it is preventing the treatment of another eye problem, such as age-related macular degeneration, diabetic retinopathy or retinal