A R C H I T H A D E V A T IP. 3

CATARACT

Basic Overview

Lens = part of the eye that focuses light on the retina

TYPES OF CATARACTS

• Old Age• Lens is made of water and protein• Protein clumps together and clouds the lens

• Secondary Cataract• Form after surgery for other eye problems• Health problems, such as diabetes

• Congenital Cataract• Traumatic Cataract

RISK FACTORS

• Smoking• Excessive UV-light exposure• Diabetes• Use of certain medications•  Oral, topical, or inhaled steroids

SYMPTOMS

• Cloudy or blurry vision.• Colors seem faded.• Glare. Headlights, lamps, or sunlight may appear

too bright. A halo may appear around lights.• Poor night vision.• Double vision or multiple images in one eye. (This

symptom may clear as the cataract gets larger.)• Frequent prescription changes in your eyeglasses

or contact lenses.

DETECTION

• Visual Acuity Test• See how well your vision is from various distances

• Dilated Eye Exam• Use a slit lamp bio-microscope• Dilate the pupils and then observe retina and optic nerve

for signs of damage

TREATMENT

• No medical treatment will prevent or reverse the cataracts• Surgery is the only remedy• Surgery ends with removal of lens and replaced

with an artifical lens (an IOL: intraocular lens)• Types of Surgery• Phacoemulsification: Most common type of surgery today• Extracapsular: Remove the lens in one piece

• http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dldB9JEtGsg