Eye Conditions: Cataracts

Cataracts are caused when the eye's lens begins to cloud. This lens is present between the iris and the pupil of the eye and is integral to proper vision.

While other forms of disease-based vision loss are somewhat common, cataracts remain the leading cause of blindness in those of advanced age. Diabetic retinopathy, glaucoma, and age-related macular degeneration cases combined are dwarfed by the incidence of cataracts in people over 40. This high prevalence of cataracts in our aging population makes visiting your opticians Coventry office vitally important if you are at risk.


Cataract Types

While the actual clouding of the lens is ubiquitous among cataract sufferers, the reason behind the accumulation of protein is not. The following different causative factors behind cataract formation denote the cataract subtypes.

Subcapsular cataract:
-Forms on the back of the eye lens.
-Has increased risk associated with extreme farsightedness, diabetic complications and medicinal steroid use.

Cortical cataract:
-Forms along the cortex of the lens.
-Is comprised of white, branching cloudiness that appears on the outside of the lens and gradually progresses towards the center of the eye.

Symptoms of Cataracts

Initial signs of cataract-induced vision loss include a slightly blurred vision. Patients will often describe the subtle change as similar to peering through clouded glass.

Other symptoms include a sensitivity to bright lights. Often times glare from the sun or a car's headlights may make vision difficult. Similar symptoms pertain to color definition. Those who suffer from cataracts complain of dulled colors and poorly lit rooms.

Different cataracts also exhibit different symptoms. A cortical cataract causes an odd improvement in nearsighted vision that many refer to as "second sight." This improvement is an excellent indicator of cataract formation as it allows opticians in Coventry to repair cataract damage before harmful symptoms begin.

Subcapsular cataracts rarely exhibit any immediate symptoms and are only noticeable when pronounced vision loss occurs.

Why do Cataracts Happen?

The function of the eye lens requires that it be continuously provided with adequate protein and water. Proteins passed around the lens throughout life may begin to clump. This clumping process is usually rapidly reversed through the natural cleansing of the lens.

Cataracts occur as the removal of clumped proteins lessens with age. Protein clumping exacerbates as the cataract formation increases, with the end result being a cloudy lens.

One of the only sure methods to reduce cataract formation as we age is to limit exposure to ultraviolet light. UV rays have been shown to increase cataract formation, and sunglasses that protect from UV damage are recommended.