About Cataracts

By Henry-001 on

Name of the medical condition and other names that it’s been known by

  • Cataracts

What are Cataracts?

Cataracts is a condition that affects the lens of the eye, causing it to become cloudy.

This can lead to symptoms such as clouded or blurred vision, difficulty seeing at night, sensitivity to light and glare, seeing “halos” around lights, and changes in color perception. Aging, eye injuries, medical conditions like diabetes, and long-term use of certain medications like steroids can cause cataracts.

While cataracts can cause significant vision problems, they are treatable. Today, cataract surgery is a common and generally safe procedure that can restore vision in people with cataracts. The surgery involves removing the clouded lens and replacing it with a clear artificial lens.

What are the different types of cataracts:

  • Age-related cataracts: These develop due to natural changes in the lens of your eye as you age.

  • Traumatic cataracts: These form after serious eye injuries.

  • Radiation cataracts: These can be caused by certain types of radiation, such as ultraviolet (UV) rays from the sun and radiation treatment for cancer.

  • Pediatric cataracts: Children can be born with cataracts (congenital cataracts) or develop them later.

  • Secondary cataracts: These develop after cataract surgery due to the formation of scar tissue in the eye, which can make your vision cloudy again. Other names for it are after-cataract or posterior capsule opacification.

Trend

  • In the United States, more than half of all Americans over the age of 80 have had cataracts or cataract surgery.

  • It is estimated that about 24.4 million Americans over the age of 40 have cataracts.

  • The number of people with cataracts is expected to increase in the next five years due to the aging population.

History

Although cataracts have been recognized for centuries, the first successful cataract surgery was not performed until the 18th century. Cataracts have been recognized for centuries.

  • The earliest documented case of a cataract was reported to be in a museum in Cairo that houses a small statue from the 5th dynasty (about 2457-2467 B.C.E.).

  • The first successful cataract surgery was performed in the 18th century by Jacques Daviel (1696–1762), a French ophthalmologist.

Cataracts - Source of Information

For informational purposes only. Consult a medical professional for advice.

This diagram is from the Griffey Eye Care & Laser Center

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