Cataract: what is the disease, symptoms and causes

During an examination, the ophthalmologist says: «I see clouding around the edges of the lens. These are the first signs of a cataract.« What does this mean? How does cataract develop, and what symptoms can manifest? First, let's look at how the part of the eye where cataracts occur is arranged. Inside the eyeball between the vitreous body and the iris is the lens. It refracts light rays and directs them to the retina, where a clear image appears. When it becomes cloudy, light no longer passes through it, so vision is impaired. With complete clouding of the lens, a person stops seeing at all.

Types of cataract and their causes

Cataracts are of several types depending on the cause of occurrence:

• Age-related cataracts (90% of cases) occur in older people. This is the most common type of clouding of the lens. Under the influence of many factors, the biochemical composition of the lens changes, and it becomes cloudy. At first, it occurs in the periphery, without affecting the optical part. Over the years, this area of the eye also becomes cloudy, and then the vision begins to deteriorate. Over time, the lens becomes increasingly opaque.
• Traumatic cataract (4%) is caused by hitting the eye area. It is also caused by exposure to chemicals such as poisons or salts of heavy metals and paints. Cataract may also develop due to severe trauma to the head which dislocates the lens or tears the ligaments.
• Radiation cataracts (3%) are caused by radiation exposure that injures the lens.
• Congenital cataract (3%) is found in infants. It could be due to genetic changes or due to diabetes and infectious diseases in the mother in the 1st trimester of pregnancy. Cataracts can occur from exposure to chemicals that are present in the mother's body and enter the fetus.

The main causes of cataracts:

• Diabetes mellitus and metabolic disorders.
• Vitamin deficiencies.
• Certain eye diseases.
• A side effect of taking certain medications for a long time.
• Entry into the body of toxic substances from the environment, food, tobacco smoke, medications, etc.

Cataract symptoms

When the lens becomes cloudy, a person sees as through fogged glass. In severe forms of cataracts, he or she can only distinguish faint spots of color.

Signs of cataracts:

• Contrast, clarity and sharpness of the image is reduced, it becomes cloudy.
• Colors become dim, their perception is impaired.
• Objects become double.
• Small spots flicker before your eyes.
• Increased sensitivity to light, discomfort from light.
• At night, there are flashes of light in the retina.
• It is difficult to see small objects, work with embroidery, knitting.
• Short-sightedness manifests itself, when objects are seen better near than those in the distance.

To determine whether there is a cataract and at what stage it is, it is necessary to see a doctor. He has the necessary equipment and skills to identify this pathology. After diagnosis, he will prescribe treatment that can slow the development of cataracts.