Eye & lens cataracts cause a cloudiness in the lens of the eye that impairs a persons vision. Learn all about this disorder!
A cloudiness in the lens of the eye that impairs a person's vision is called a cataract. This loss of transparency in the lens of the eye was named cataract when it was believe many centuries ago that the whiteness behind the pupil was caused by a waterfall that descended from the brain. In reality, the white appearance in the eye is caused by changes in the delicate protein fibers that are found within the lens much like what occurs when an egg is boiled. Although cataracts are not known to cause total blindness they will produce a progressively painless loss of vision. The cause of this condition is unknown but it is believed that exposure to x-rays such as strong sunlight or radiotherapy, disease that causes inflammation of the eye, certain drugs or complications from other diseases could be the reason this condition develops. Even though cataracts are more common in older people there have been cases where babies were born with this disorder. In this cases the development is known as congenital cataracts.
Since any light that enters the eye has to pass through the lens any blockage, diffusion or distortion of that light will cause poor vision. But in the case of cataracts even a densely opalescent lens is still capable of transmitting light even though there is an increasing loss of transparency which causes the clarity and detail of the image to be progressively lost. Although many people believe that the whiteness behind the pupil caused by cataracts is always visible in some cases this symptom is not apparent to an external observer. In this case, only when the front part of the crystalline lens has become densely opaque will an external observer see the whiteness in the pupil. It is a known fact that almost everyone over the age of 65 has some degree of cataracts and even though this condition usually occurs in both eyes, one eye will be more severely affected.
Symptoms of cataracts are painless and visual only. In the beginning the symptoms are hardly noticeable and the progress of this condition can be extremely slow. One of the first signs could be a diagnoses of near sightedness, which in the case of a person who has been diagnosed as far sighted may find them reading without their glasses. When looking at colors a person who has developed cataracts might find that blues appear duller while reds, yellows and oranges appear brighter. The most prevalent symptom is an increase in the blurring of the vision. Since the opacities in the lens tends to cause a scattering of the light rays night driving may be affected at a fairly early stage of this condition. But in most cases the person who is affected will only notice a slight change in their vision that makes it more difficult to see with the clarity they have experienced before.
Doctors can see cataract when examining the eye with an instrument that is used to view the inside of the eye called an ophthalmoscope. Once the onset of this condition has begun there is no way to reverse the change using medications, even though medications that keep the pupil dilated have been known to help. In some cases contacts and eye glasses may improve the vision but if the condition has advanced to the point that the person feels unable to perform their daily task then surgery may be required. Cataract surgery is a common and safe type of surgery which restores sight by removing the cataract from the eye.
