Cataracts - What are they?

How You See:

In order to for you to see, light must first pass through a variety of different parts in your eyes. First, light passes through the cornea and the iris, or the opening in the eye; it is then focused by the crystalline lens through the vitreous fluid and onto the cells in the back of the eye, called the retina.

Cataracts:

Cataracts are cloudy formations that develop on the crystalline lens, which prevent the light from being focused onto the retina properly. The crystalline lens is responsible for all of the focusing the eye does, whether up close or far away. The crystalline lens is able to focus on objects through a process called accommodation, where the lens flexes and bends so that the light can be finely focused. As most people age, cataracts develop and cause the focus in their vision to decrease.

Since cataracts grow in most people at a very slow rate, they often go unrecognized and untreated. While some cataracts can be minor and not impede daily activities, other cataracts can become more severe and prevent people from living life the way they want.

The lens in your eye is composed of 65% water, and there is no blood supply to the lens. While the body is continuously making new cells and attempting to keep the crystalline lens as healthy as possible, as we all age, the lens can become cloudy from protein deposits and other factors. While any cloudy formations on the lens are termed cataracts, there are a few different types:

Age-Related Cataract - Over 90% of the people age 65 or older have cataracts, these are the most common type of cataract, and there are three classifications for age-related cataracts:

Nuclear Cataract - can be seen as it forms because the cataract forms in the nucleus, or center, of the lens.
Subcapsular Cataract - begins to form at the back of the lens, and can usually be found in people who are diabetic, have been taking steroids, are farsighted.
Cortical Cataract - forms on the cortex of the lens, or outside, and gradually extends toward the center of the lens.

Secondary Cataract - Either disease, like diabetes, or medication, causes this type of cataract. People who are diabetic are ten times more likely to develop cataracts, and people who take steroids tend to develop cataracts more often than people who do not.
Traumatic Cataract - This type of cataract develops as a result of an injury to the eye.
Congenital Cataract - These are the least common form of cataracts. They develop within a year after being born as a result of genetics.

Treatment:

At the moment, the only treatment for cataracts is the removal and replacement of the crystalline lens in your eye. The natural crystalline lens is surgically removed and replaced with an Intraocular Lens (IOL). Cataract replacement is the most successful eye surgery procedure performed, and the incision made is very small, and does not need any stitches or sutures.

In the past, the IOL that was chosen to replace the natural lens in cataract surgery, had to be selected to either focus on distance objects, or close objects. Now, however, IOLs have been developed to allow people to focus objects at multiple distances.

The best way to determine if you have cataracts is to schedule regular eye exams with an experienced ophthalmologist. Contact SNEADCataract for your next exam, and determine if you have or are developing cataracts.

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