Cataracts are a common occurrence in patients over 65, over 50% of people over 65 have a form of cataract development in either one or both eyes, many of these cataracts can be effectively treated with surgery. A cataract refers to the loss of transparency of the lens resulting in clouding of the lens in the eye. Cataracts are a common cause of visual complaints in patients over the age of 50 because vision can become blurred or dim as a result of the cataract blocking the light from passing through the lens to the retina at the back of the eye for processing, the lens is a transparent elastic body located behind the iris (the coloured part of the eye). The function of the lens is to bend light rays to give a clear image to the retina located at the back of the eye. Some symptoms of cataract development include double vision (the cloudiness of the lens may be in more than one place, resulting in the light rays being split when they reach the retina, causing the patient to experience double vision), poor vision in bright light, change of colour perception (as the cataract developments in the lens, its center becomes increasingly yellow in colour, giving everything a yellowish appearance).
Some cataracts develop slowly and may not affect a patient’s vision at the beginning, as they progress, visual changes may occur such as blurred/dim vision, Most cataracts develop due to aging or an injury that makes changes to the lens of the eye. A number of hereditary genetic disorders which can result in other medical conditions can also be a risk factor in the development of cataracts. Cataracts can also be secondary to other eye conditions, can occur if the patient as underwent previous eye surgery, or can be caused by diabetes. Long term use of steroid medication can also lead to cataract development.
Add comment
Comments