What is Cataract

1. What isCataract? • The opacification of the normal transparent lens is calledcataract. • The Latin word “Cataracta” means Waterfall – imagine trying to see through a sheet of falling water or through a frosted or fogged upwindow. • The earliest surgical treatment for cataract began in India and was calledcouching. • In this procedure the sclera is incised and the lens is dislocated backward into the vitreous and displaced out of the optical axis. This procedure was performed for more than 2000 years until mid-eighteenth century. • Great progress in cataract surgery has been made in recent years with the introduction of microsurgical instruments, microscope & modern surgical techniques like phacoemulsification. • Lens: The lens consists ofthe • Capsule • Cortex • Nucleus • The primary function of the lens is to focus light on the retina, while remaining transparent. This transparency depends on maintenance of structural (anatomic) & functional (physiologic) integrity of itscells. • The lens is 66% water, the least hydrated organ of the body, the remaining bulk is composed mainly of protein. It is devoid of any blood supply and derives its nourishment from the surrounding fluid of the eye i.e. aqueous &vitreous. Common Causes ofCataract • Age related or senile: Occurs as a result of natural ageing process of lens fibers, which become opaque over a period oftime.

2. Traumatic Cataract: Develops as a result of injury to theeye. • Metabolic Cataract: Develops as a result of defect in body metabolism – Diabetes- Calcium disorders. • Toxic Cataract: Certain Toxic Substances or Drugs can lead to cataract if taken for a long time due to any reason. Eg. Steroids Miotics, Chlorpromazine,etc. • Secondary Cataract: develops as a result of some other primary eye disease such as chronic inflammation or glaucoma. • DEVELOPMENT OFCATARACT • NormalEye • It varies from person to person but as a general rule, most cataracts develop slowly over a period of time. A cataract can take months or even years to reach a point where is adversely affects vision. How does Cataract affect NormalLifestyle? One may not be aware that a cataract is developing if the size and location of the cloudy areas in the lens are not in the Central pupillary area. As the cataract progresses, there is deterioration of distance and reading vision. One may experience hazy and blurred vision. Double vision may also occur when a cataract is beginning toform. Eye withCataract The eye may also be more sensitive to light and glare, making night driving difficult. There may be a need to change the glass prescription in the early stages which may help temporally.As the Cataract develops, stronger glasses would no longer improve the vision. This can lead to imbalance between the two eyes, which may cause headache. One may also experience Poor night vision, poor depth perception e.g. difficulty in gettingdownstairs.