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Cataract refers to the clouding of the eye"s natural lens that slowly renders it opaque and deteriorates vision.It causes a gradual, painless and progressive loss of vision that cannot be restored by spectacles or medication.It is a part of the natural aging process and every individual is susceptible to cataract.

The human eye consists of a crystalline lens placed in a bag or a capsule.The lens is made of mostly water and soluble proteins.As it ages,the protein degenerates,becomes insoluble and makes the lens appear cloudy.These opacities block light from reaching the retina thus interfering with ones vision.

CAUSES OF CATARACT

Cataract occurs as a result of natural aging of the human lens.It can also be due to heredity,injury,certain drugs,toxic chemicals,heat,radiation,metabolic disorders like diabetes,severe dehydration,malnutrition and as a part of certain congenital disorder syndromes.
Cataract can be found in any age group-right from a new born to 80 yrs of age and above.

SYMPTOMS OF CATARACT

Cataract can make even your day to day tasks difficult on account of

cloudy or blurred vision

coloured haloes around lights

frequent change of glasses

poor night vision

coloured vision eg. Seeing more red everywhere(erythropsia)

Presbyopes with nuclear cataract suddenly find they don't need glasses for near vision anymore-a condition referred to as " second sight"

TREATMENT MODALITIES

Surgery is the one and only treatment for cataract.The cataractous lens is extracted and replaced by an artificial lens to restore vision.This can be accomplished by 2 ways:

ECCE or conventional method where cataractous lens is extracted through an incision of 10 mm,rigid intra ocular lens implanted and wound closed with non absorbable sutures.

Microincision surgery with phacoemulsification where ultrasonic energy is used to fragment the lens into tiny pieces through a 3.0 mm incision,aspirated out with a suction device and a foldable intra ocular lens is implanted.The wound is self sealing and NO stitches are required.Wound healing and gain of vision is very rapid and much better by this method.

AFTER CATARACT

After cataract or PCO refers to the opacification of the posterior capsule -a thin membrane on which the intraocular lens is placed.This causes a gradual diminution of vision in an eye with previously good post operative vision.It can occur within months to years after cataract surgery.YAG LASER is used to make a capsulotomy or hole in the posterior capsule to restore vision.

DO YOU NEED GLASSES AFTER SURGERY?

One may need a minimum power spectacles to fine tune post operative vision and for near work postoperatively.

MISCONCEPTIONS

Cataract is a disease or a growth in the eye.

Praying can cure cataract