ARCHITHA DEVATI P.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