Cataract: Pathology, symptoms and other conditions associated with Cataracts

What are cataracts: Cataract symptoms and pathology associated with cataracts or eye lens opacity

A cataract is an opacity of the lens of the eye, causing impairment of vision such as glare. Cataracts are most commonly caused by aging, Pathogenesis of cataract or cataracts may also be congenital or result from eye inflammations or certain diseases, such as diabetes. Cataracts cause blurred vision and other symptoms. Cataracts can be treated by the use of corrective lenses and, if needed, cataract eye surgery (cataract laser surgery): removal of the lens and implantation of an artificial lens implant by a cataract doctor. Catraracts are sometimes mispelled as cateract, cateracts, cateract surgery.

Cataract development and cataract progression: what causes cataracts

A cataract usually develops as a slow and progressive clouding of the human lens inside the eye. Clouding of the natural lens of the eye, usually a process of aging or excessive exposure over the years to ultra violet sun rays, causing blurred vision. Most people over 60 years of age have some degree of cataracts. During modern cataract surgery (cataract removal), this natural lens is removed and replaced by an to intraocular lens.

Effects of cataracts on the eye lens, methods of treatment including cataract phacoemulsification, cataract lens implants, and cataract surgery

The lens is a small oval like structure and consists of a thin capsule enveloping a bag of protein. The protein is crystal clear and colorless at birth but discolors and clouds with age: first yellow, then brown, and finally cloudy. When the lens becomes cloudy and interferes with vision, it is called a cataract. The lens no longer transmits or focuses light clearly. A cataract is not a growth nor do they become "ripe". Cataracts are typically removed either by phacoemulsification (phaco) or Intracapusular extraction (ICCE) where the lens is chipped away inside the lens capsule (sac or bag) by the use of an ultrasonic phacoemulsification tip or phacoemulsifier allowing the surgeon to make a small 2 - 3 mm incision instead of by extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) where the lens is expressed or removed in one piece through a 12mm incision. The lens' capsule is left in place to hold an intraocular lens or IOL. Multiple sutures are required to seal the eye after surgery. These sutures must be carefully tightened not to produce astigmatism. The risk of astigmatism and sudden pressure changes inside the eye are minimized. The procedure is safe enough to be done under topical anesthesia (anesthetic eyedrops). Visual rehabilitation is extremely fast and patients don't need to suspend their everyday activities.

Alternative cataract treatments, cataract capsulotomy

In some cases the capsule may opacify some time after surgery, compromising vision. In these cases a central perforation in the capsule is required to restore vision. This is called a capsulotomy and is achieved with a YAG laser. The capsulotomy is performed as a no-stitch outpatient procedure and produces no pain. No anesthetic is necessary and rehabilitation is immediate.