Types of Cataracts, their Symptoms and Prevention
The function of your eyes is somewhat similar to that of a camera that records images. As the light enters the eyes, it passes through the cornea, the transparent fluid in the eye (known as aqueous humor), the pupils and then into the lens. The lens then bends the light so that it focuses the image of the objects on the retinal lining at the back of the eyes. From here, the formed image travels through the cells of the retina to the optic nerve. This carries the image to the brain, which processes it.
When there is a cataract formation, which is a protein buildup on lens, it prevents the passage of light through it. This causes some or complete vision loss. This buildup happens as older cells are compressed together and pushed towards the center of the lens when new cells are formed on the outside.
Some of the different types of cataracts are:
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Age-related cataracts: As the name makes it obvious, these are formed due to aging.
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Traumatic cataracts: These cataracts are a result of an injury or trauma to the eye.
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Secondary cataracts: Cataracts can be a result of an underlying medical condition such as diabetes. They can also form because of exposure to toxic substances or certain types of drugs like diuretics or corticosteroids. Radiation or ultraviolet rays can also cause them.
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Congenital cataracts: Sometimes babies are born with cataracts or develop them in their childhood. This can be due to injury, infection, or underdevelopment before being born.
The symptoms of cataract
Cataract formation is a gradual process and often people are unaware of this condition until their vision gets blurred considerably. Some of the symptoms to watch out for are blurry, foggy, cloudy or filmy vision; increase in nearsightedness during old age to the point that it eliminates the need of reading glasses; change in color vision as the cataract film can act as a filter; glare in vision during nighttime or even daytime; superimposed or double vision; and rapid changes in power of prescription glasses.
Prevention of cataracts
Air pollution, smoking and chronic alcohol use are known to cause cataracts, and ultraviolet light may cause them to progress more quickly. There is no sure-shot way of preventing them. Regular eye checkup is advised to prevent cataract formation and treat them at their initial stages. This is especially important as you age. A family history of cataracts and predisposing factors like diabetes too are good indicators to get your eyes checked periodically. Sometimes, it is inevitable that you develop cataracts. If this happens, your cataract surgeon in Detroit can safely and effectively rid you of it, as this is considered a very common form of eye condition.
