Cataracts

There exist various causes for the clouding of an eye lens.  The most common ones are:

• CONGENITAL CATARACTS:  The baby is born with cataracts
• AGE RELATED:  Affects older people
• SYSTEMIC:  It occurs in patients with diabetes or hypertension
• TRAUMA:  The cataracts appear after the patient experiences physical eye trauma such as an accident.
• EXPOSURE TO SUNLIGHT:  Occurs when the patient is exposed without protection for extended periods.

The only treatment for a cataract is surgery.  Depending on the advancement of the cataracts, there are two possible techniques.

• PHACOEMULSIFICATION
• EXTRACAPSULAR

The necessity of either surgery is indicated when the person’s vision is impacted to the point that daily activities are affected.