Cataract

A person who has cataract develops cloudiness on the eye lens.

Pathogenesis

Cataract in older people is the most common form of cataract. In the course of the years the proteins in the eye lens become lumpy and the lens gradually becomes cloudy.

Symptoms

The opacity of the lens obstructs the passage of light creating a less vivid image on the retina. This gradually reduces vision acuity. There is loss of colour sensitivity. As light is scattered by the cataract into the eye it can cause a blinding effect and because the lens obstructs light, a person with cataract sees poorly in the dark.

Treatment

A common treatment is to surgically remove the cataract and to replace it with a synthetic lens. This is a procedure taken as soon as the cataract becomes bothersome for daily functioning and when an ophthalmologist decides that this is possible and necessary. The operation is first done on one eye. A laser treatment can be applied in case of posterior cataract.

Practical consequences

• Visual acuity decreases (seeing fewer details). For example: difficulty with threading a needle, reading, recognising people
• Sensitivity to open light sources, for example car lights

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External links

> Patient Association Staar