Cataract

Cataract is a condition characterized by the clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision. Most cataracts are related to aging, and they are very common in older people. A cataract can occur in either or both eyes, but it cannot spread from one eye to the other.

Cataract in human eye

Causes

The primary cause of cataracts is the age-related degeneration of the proteins within the lens of the eye, leading to the clouding of the lens. Other factors that may contribute to the development of cataracts include:

Cataract

• Diabetes
• Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation
• Smoking
• Excessive alcohol consumption
• Prolonged use of corticosteroid medications
• Previous eye surgery or injuries
• Family history of cataracts
• Other medical conditions, such as hypertension or obesity

Symptoms

Cataract symptoms typically develop gradually and worsen over time. Common symptoms include:

• Blurred or hazy vision
• Increased sensitivity to glare and bright lights
• Difficulty seeing at night
• Double vision in one eye
• Fading or yellowing of colors
• Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescription

Diagnosis

A comprehensive eye examination by an ophthalmologist or optometrist is necessary to diagnose cataracts. Diagnostic tests may include:

• Visual acuity test: This test measures how well a patient can see at various distances.
• Slit-lamp examination: A slit lamp uses a high-intensity light source and a microscope to examine the structures at the front of the eye, including the lens.
• Retinal examination: After dilating the pupils with eye drops, the doctor uses a special instrument to examine the retina and optic nerve at the back of the eye.

Treatment

The treatment for cataracts depends on the severity of the condition and its impact on the patient's daily activities. Early-stage cataracts may be managed with non-surgical interventions, such as:

• Updating eyeglass or contact lens prescription
• Using magnifying lenses for reading or other close-up work
• Wearing sunglasses to reduce glare

When cataracts significantly impair vision and interfere with daily activities, cataract surgery may be recommended. This procedure involves removing the clouded lens and replacing it with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). Cataract surgery is generally safe and effective, with a high success rate in improving vision.

Prevention

While cataracts cannot always be prevented, certain lifestyle changes and precautions may help reduce the risk of developing them:

• Protecting the eyes from UV radiation by wearing sunglasses with UV protection
• Managing chronic medical conditions, such as diabetes and hypertension
• Eating a balanced diet rich in antioxidants, including fruits and vegetables
• Quitting smoking and limiting alcohol consumption
• Having regular eye examinations to monitor eye health and detect cataracts early

External links

• American Academy of Ophthalmology: What Are Cataracts?
• National Eye Institute: Cataracts

Topics in Ophthalmology

• Macular degeneration (AMD)
• Amblyopia
• Anophthalmia and * Microphthalmia
• Astigmatism
• Blepharitis
• Cataract
• Color blindness
• Cornea and Corneal disease
• Diabetic retinopathy
• Dry eye
• Floaters
• Glaucoma
• Hyperopia
• Intracranial hypertension
• Low vision
• Macular edema
• Myopia
• Pink Eye or Conjunctivitis
• Presbyopia
• Refractive errors
• Retinal detachment
• Retinitis pigmentosa
• Retinoblastoma
• Retinopathy of prematurity
• Uveitis
• Vitreous detachment

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National Eye Institute Eye Topics A Age-Related Eye Disease Study 2 (AREDS2) Age-Related Eye Disease Study--Results Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Age-Related Macular Degeneration, Facts About AGI Seminar Series in Neuroregeneration Amblyopia Amblyopia Treatment Study (ATS I) Amblyopia, Facts About Anophthalmia and Microphthalmia Anophthalmia and Microphthalmia, Facts About Astigmatism Astigmatism, Facts About Audacious Goals Initiative (AGI) B Behçet’s Disease of the Eye, Facts About Bietti's Crystalline Dystrophy Bietti's Crystalline Dystrophy, Facts About Big Data to Knowledge (BD2K) Biochemistry Section Bioinformatics Group Biological Imaging Core Facility Blepharitis Blepharitis, Facts About Blepharospasm Blepharospasm, Facts About C Career Information for Postdoctoral and Clinical Fellows Cataract Cataract, Facts About Children's Materials Clinical and Translational Imaging Unit Clinical Immunology Clinical Studies Clinical Trials in Vision Research Color Blindness Color Blindness, Facts About Cornea and Corneal Disease Cornea and Corneal Disease, Facts About The D Diabetic Eye Disease Diabetic Retinopathy, Facts About Diagram of the Eye Diagram of the Eye Before and After Dilated Eye Exam Dry Eye Dry Eye, Fact about E Early Manifest Glaucoma Trial (EMGT) Experimental Immunology Section Eye Health Information Eye Movements and Visual Selection, Section on eyeGENE® F Facts About Lighthouse International Fax Numbers Financial Aid for Eye Care Finding an Eye Care Professional Fiscal Operations Plan Floaters Floaters, Facts About

G Glaucoma Glaucoma runs in families Glaucoma, Facts About Global Health Vision Lecture Series   H Healthy Eyes Healthy Eyes Facts Healthy Eyes Toolkit Hyperopia Hyperopia, Facts About I Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension, Facts about Immunoregulation Section K Knowledge, Attitudes, and Practices (KAP) Study L Low Vision Macular Edema Macular Edema , Facts About Macular Hole Macular Hole, Facts About Macular Pucker Macular Pucker, Facts About Minutes of Past NAEC Meetings Molecular Immunology Section Molecular Mechanisms Section Multicenter Uveitis Steroid Treatment (MUST) Trial Myopia Myopia, Facts About N NEI Symposium: The Role of Immunology in Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) Neurobiology Neurodegeneration & Repair Laboratory (NNRL)[1] O P Photos and Images Pink Eye Pink Eye (Conjunctivitis) Presbyopia Presbyopia, Facts About

R Rare Diseases Refractive Errors Refractive Errors, Facts About Regulation of Gene Expression Section Report on the NEI Audacious Goals Initiative: Regenerating the Optic Nerve Research at NEI Retinal Detachment Retinal Detachment, Facts About Retinal Disease Retinal Ganglion Cell Biology, Section on Retinitis Pigmentosa Retinitis Pigmentosa, Facts About Retinoblastoma Retinoblastoma, Facts About Retinopathy of Prematurity Retinopathy of Prematurity (ROP), Facts About S Sayer Vision Research Lecture and Award Series See Well for a Lifetime Toolkit—Module 1 See Well for a Lifetime Toolkit—Module 2 See Well for a Lifetime Toolkit—Module 3 Sensation, Cognition and Action Section Simulations, Eye Disease Symposium: Immunology of Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD) T Third-Party Websites and Applications (TPWA)[2] U Usher Syndrome Usher Syndrome,Facts About Uveal Coloboma Uveal Coloboma, Facts About Uveitis Uveitis, Facts About V Vision-Related Terms--Selected Online Sources Vitreous Detachment Vitreous Detachment, Facts About W World Glaucoma Week Y You Could Have Glaucoma and Not Know it YouTube Videos

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