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Causes
of Cataract
The most common cause of cataract is the deterioration of
the normal structure within the lens of the eye with age.
There may be other causes like diabetes, kidney disease, glaucoma,
smoking, eye injuries, infection, and inflammation inside
the eye. Prolonged use of certain medications can also lead
to cataract formation.
In the early stages, you can improve your vision by changing
your glasses. But once the cataract progresses, changing glasses
will not help. You will notice some deterioration in your
ability to see things clearly from a distance. You may have
difficulty with glare while driving, or while performing activities
like reading that require clear vision. Other symptoms may
be colored haloes, or double or multiple images in the eye
when the other eye is occluded.
A cataract may develop slowly over several years or rapidly
within months. Often the other eye will also be affected,
but it may not happen at the same time. There are no medications,
eye drops, or dietary restrictions that can cure or prevent
cataract formation. If the cataract interferes with your regular
activities, the only solution is surgery.
In cataract surgery your natural clouded lens is replaced
by an artificial intraocular lens (IOL), which helps incoming
light rays to be focused properly. Your new lens should restore
vision to nearly what it was earlier, though you may need
to wear glasses for reading or driving.
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