Cataract

It leads to the formation of the dense and cloudy area in one or both eyes. As it develops slowly, this condition makes it difficult for the person to see clearly. Common symptoms a person may experience due to cataract are clouded and dim vision, sensitivity to glare, seeing halos around the lights, double vision, and fading of colors.

Signs and symptoms of cataracts include:

• Clouded, blurred or dim vision
• Increasing difficulty with vision at night
• Sensitivity to light and glare
• Need for brighter light for reading and other activities
• Seeing “halos” around lights
• Frequent changes in eyeglass or contact lens prescription
• Fading or yellowing of colors
• Double vision in a single eye

Causes

Most cataracts develop when aging or injury changes the tissue that makes up the eye’s lens. Proteins and fibers in the lens begin to break down, causing vision to become hazy or cloudy.

Some inherited genetic disorders that cause other health problems can increase your risk of cataracts. Cataracts can also be caused by other eye conditions, past eye surgery or medical conditions such as diabetes. Long-term use of steroid medications, too, can cause cataracts to develop.

Diagnosis of Cataract

To diagnose your doctor will review your medical history and symptoms, and perform an eye examination. Your doctor may conduct several tests, including:

• Visual acuity test. A visual acuity test uses an eye chart to measure how well you can read a series of letters. Your eyes are tested one at a time, while the other eye is covered. Using a chart or a viewing device with progressively smaller letters, your eye doctor determines if you have 20/20 vision or if your vision shows signs of impairment.
• Slit-lamp examination. A slit lamp allows your eye doctor to see the structures at the front of your eye under magnification. The microscope is called a slit lamp because it uses an intense line of light, a slit, to illuminate your cornea, iris, lens, and the space between your iris and cornea. The slit allows your doctor to view these structures in small sections, which makes it easier to detect any tiny abnormalities.
• Retinal exam. To prepare for a retinal exam, your eye doctor puts drops in your eyes to open your pupils wide (dilate). This makes it easier to examine the back of your eyes (retina). Using a slit lamp or a special device called an ophthalmoscope, your eye doctor can examine your lens for signs of a cataract.
• Applanation tonometry. This test measures fluid pressure in your eye. There are multiple different devices available to do this.

Treatment of Cataract

When your prescription glasses can’t clear your vision, the only effective treatment is surgery. Surgery can help in curing the condition. Treatments available are Phacomulsification. MICS, FLACS. Visit Shreya Hospital in Ghaziabad for Cataract Surgery, available under Ayushman Bharat Yojana and other TPA Pannels.