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General Information About Cataracts
Cataract This information was developed by the National Eye Institute to help patients and their families search for general information about cataracts. An eye care professional who has examined the patient's eyes and is familiar with his or her medical history is the best person to answer specific questions. Table of Contents * Cataract Defined What is a cataract? What is the lens? Are there other types of cataract? * Causes and Risk Factors What causes cataracts? How can cataracts affect my vision? When are you most likely to have a cataract? Who is at risk for cataract? What can I do to protect my vision? * Symptoms and Detection What are the symptoms of a cataract? How is a cataract detected? * Treatment How is a cataract treated? What are the different types of cataract surgery? What are the risks of cataract surgery? Is cataract surgery effective? What happens before surgery? What happens during surgery? What happens after surgery? Can problems develop after surgery? When will my vision be normal again? What can I do if I already have lost some vision from cataract? * Current Research What research is being done? * More Information Eye Health Organizations and more. Cataract Defined What is a cataract? A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision. Most cataracts are related to aging. Cataracts are very common in older people. By age 80, more than half of all Americans either have a cataract or have had cataract surgery. A cataract can occur in either or both eyes. It cannot spread from one eye to the other. Image of the eye What is the lens? The lens is a clear part of the eye that helps to focus light, or an image, on the retina. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. In a normal eye, light passes through the transparent lens to the retina. Once it reaches the retina, light is changed into
posted on
Fri, 5 Dec 2008
Medically reviewed by
Ask A Doctor - 24x7 Medical Review Team
Fri, 5 Dec 2008
Answered on
Sat, 1 Jan 2011
Last reviewed on
User's Response
mousumi.gupta's
Response
Causes and Risk Factors
What causes cataracts?
The lens lies behind the iris and the pupil . It works much like a camera lens. It focuses light onto the retina at the back of the eye, where an image is recorded. The lens also adjusts the eye's focus, letting us see things clearly both up close and far away. The lens is made of mostly water and protein. The protein is arranged in a precise way that keeps the lens clear and lets light pass through it.
But as we age, some of the protein may clump together and start to cloud a small area of the lens. This is a cataract. Over time, the cataract may grow larger and cloud more of the lens, making it harder to see.
Researchers suspect that there are several causes of cataract, such as smoking and diabetes. Or, it may be that the protein in the lens just changes from the wear and tear it takes over the years.
How can cataracts affect my vision?
Age-related cataracts can affect your vision in two ways:
1. Clumps of protein reduce the sharpness of th
User's Response
niazahmed_'s
Response
No once catract is formed it cant go back, the catract has to be operated, even i was diabetic, i had diabetic cataract in the eye, doctor said the only remedy is to remove the cataract, and get well soon. its a minor operation on the eye i recovered soon. so i advice you to go for the surgery. one thing i want to mention is to control your sugars, if sugars are well controlled the chances of getting diabetes cataract is less.
User's Response
wenhui's
Response
i am wehui here, i am diabetic since 8 yrs on medications. i had no eye problems before i dont were spectacles also. but i not able to see proprely in nite, and frequent getting water in eyes. i was worried more then my doctor tested the sugar levels, it was high, then reffered to eye doctor. he put few drops in my eyes and then examined my eyes and said i have diabetic cataract. they said once your sugar levels come down they will operate. i am worried, now i am strict diet control and i do exercise also, i also take 2 diabetic medications. from these efforts my sugar levlels have come down, i think my vision is also improving better. so there is no need for sugery right. please guide me i dont want any surgery i am afraid.
User's Response
jyotika's
Response
My grand father had same problem, he had cataract, he was unable to see properly. Cataract is the haziness of lens in the eyes. He saw an eye doctor. The doctor suggested hime to under go operation, we were little scarred initially, later the doctor convinced us. He underwent surgery last month, now he is fine. They said they have out some lens to his eyes. Now he can see well
User's Response
roshin's
Response
AS for as i know there is no tablet for cataract...there is only one way that is surgery....and it occurs mostly in old age...there are many...reasons..even diabetes also cam lead to cataract...and my friend has got cataract after an injury to his eye...in an accident..and he underwent surgery for that....so once u get a cataract...only treatment is surgery....
User's Response
tanuja's
Response
NOTHING to worry even i had similar problem.i went for some ayurvedic treatment as i was scared about surgery i9t dint work out...i was not able to see clearly..even after that medication ...i got operated last year....and now after surgery i can see normally......so dnt worry abt surgery ..proceed ..
User's Response
wenhui's
Response
ok, i got it even if my sugars are well controlled i need to go for sugery. i am littled relaxed so i will go for surgery, i want to get rid of it. i will go for surgery.
Welcome to HealthcareMagic Forum.
In cataract the lens becomes hazy.The lens is removed by cutting up the eye from3to9o'clock position.putting in the artificial lens and giving5 stitches to close.In phacoemulsifiaction there is a probe with quartz crystal vibrating at 40 thousand cycles per sec.which emulsifies the lens and aspirates.An artificial lens is then put in by this 2.8mm 3.2 or 5.25mm openings
In cataract the lens becomes hazy.The lens is removed by cutting up the eye from3to9o'clock position.putting in the artificial lens and giving5 stitches to close.In phacoemulsifiaction there is a probe with quartz crystal vibrating at 40 thousand cycles per sec.which emulsifies the lens and aspirates.An artificial lens is then put in by this 2.8mm 3.2 or 5.25mm openings
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