Taking care of eye health is as important as overall body health.
Poor lifestyle choices can not only affect your health but also lead to vision-related problems. One of the leading causes of blindness is cataract. Although, it is preventable and can be treated. A cataract is a clouding of your lens that leads to blurry vision and requires your eyes to over work to focus things clearly.
If you’re facing similar symptoms, do not ignore them and consult your ophthalmologist to get immediate treatment. In this article, we’ll explain cataracts in detail to help you answer all of your queries.
What is a Cataract?
Cataract is a common eye disease in which clouding of lens occurs and leads to a foggy or blurry vision. It happens when the proteins in your lens break down and makes things look hazy or blurry.
What are types of Cataract?
Depending on the clouding of the lens, cataracts are broadly classified into five types.
1. Age-related Cataract
With age, structural changes in eyes lead to formation of cataract in your eyes.
2. Traumatic Cataract
People having an eye trauma or injury can sometimes develop cataract due to structural changes in the lens.
3. Congenital Cataract
Sometimes the newborn are born with cataract which is known as congenital cataract. The reason for congenital cataract can be genetic or a pregnancy complication.
4. Radiation Cataract
The cataract that occurs due to exposure to ultraviolet radiations leads to the formation of radiation cataract.
5. Secondary Cataract
Sometimes Posterior capsular specification occurs after a cataract surgery which is known as a secondary cataract.
Causes of Cataract
While there can be many reasons for a cataract to develop, a few common ones are listed below.
1. Medical Conditions
Medical conditions such as diabetes and hypertension can lead to a speedy formation of cataract due to changes in the structure of the lens. In addition, excessive use of steroids can also be a cause.
2. External Factors
External factors such as excessive exposure to sunlight, air pollution, smoking, etc can contribute to the formation of opacified lens which can cause hazy vision.
3. Family history
Having a family history of cataract can increase your chances of having cataract. For instance, if congenital cataract runs in your family, your child is most likely to be born with it.
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Symptoms of Cataract
Common signs and symptoms of cataract are listed below.
- Blurred vision
- Light sensitivity
- Frequent Prescription changes in eyeglasses
- Complaint of diplopia( double vision)
- Difficulty in night driving
- Complain of glare
Treatment
The treatment for cataract is an eye surgery. In cataract surgery, the surgeon removes the clouded lens and replaces it with IOL ( intraocular lens). The IOL is according to the customized needs of the patients. Cataract surgery can restore your lost vision and help you to carry out routine tasks. It has a high success rate which makes it a feasible option. However, you need to take postoperative care of your eye and visit your ophthalmologist for follow-ups to ensure the best results.
