Cataract is derived from the Latin word ‘cataracta’, meaning ‘waterfall. Cataracts cause an overall decrease in vision, contrast sensitivity loss, and reduced colour vision. It appears as though you are looking though a waterfall. Cataracts are the clouding of the lens inside your eye. A normal lens is transparent allowing light to pass through to the back of our eye.
Cataracts occur when the intra-ocular lens in your eye becomes dull and light is unable to pass through as easily. This intra-ocular lens grows throughout your whole life and becomes thicker with white opacities up to a point where you can no longer see clearly with spectacles. Cataracts have several causes. Although the precise cause is unknown, most cases of cataract formation are associated with aging.
Causes of cataracts
- Trauma
- Previous eye surgeries
- A family history of cataracts
- Certain medications (e.g. cortisone)
- Metabolic diseases like diabetes
- Genetic abnormalities
Facts about cataracts
- Cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss worldwide.
- People of all ages can develop cataracts
- They are a common cause of vision loss in older patients.
- They can develop painlessly
- Exposure to the sun can increase your risk of developing cataracts
- Avoiding certain risk factors can cut down your risk of developing cataracts
- It is possible to be born with cataracts
