Cataract

Cataract is a painless eye condition that occurs when the lens of the eye thickens and becomes clouded or opaque. The Cataract blocks the passage of light from entering the eye, making focusing very difficult. The senile Cataract, which occurs in people over the age of 65, is the most common form of the disease. Cataract varies in size. Some are very small and do not cause a disturbance of vision. Others can grow larger and denser over time, resulting in serious vision changes. As a cataract grows it can overtake the eye, sometimes causing the entire eye to appear white and cloudy. This is called a “ripe” Cataract, which can result in severe vision problems. Some people with Cataract see significant improvement by wearing eyeglasses or contact lenses enhance vision. Others require surgery to remove the Cataract. Cataract can cause blindness, but the incidence of this occurring is very rare.

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Possible Causes of Cataracts
Factors associated with Cataract include aging, overexposure to ultraviolet radiation, eye injury, diabetes, glaucoma, retinal detachment, long-term use of steroid medication, frequent X-rays and family history of Cataract. Cataract is sometimes seen in newborns, but the cause is rarely known.

Possible Symptoms of Cataracts
Common symptoms of Cataract include cloudy or filmy vision, difficulty driving at night because headlights seem too bright, excessive glare from lamps and/or the sun, double vision, constantly changing eyeglass prescriptions, and frequent difficulty performing everyday tasks at home and on the job.

Possible Lifestyle Changes for Cataracts
There is no surefire way to avoid Cataract, but there are some lifestyle changes that can slow its progression. Stop smoking, protect the eyes from the sun with wide-brimmed hats and sunglasses, limit alcohol intake, avoid steroid medications, keep blood pressure and diabetes under control and eat a diet rich in vitamins E and C. Anyone with Cataract should avoid using antihistamines.

Sunday, October 12, 2008

Cataract

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