Causes

Aging
Aging is the most common cause of
cataract. The lens in our eyes is
mostly made out of water and
protein. As we age, the protein may
clump together and start to cloud a
small area of the lens: cataract in
its early form.
Symptoms
Other causes of cataract include: Symptoms of cataracts vary from
 Smoking person to person. However some
of the common signs from
 Sunlight exposure (UV)
advanced cataracts include:
 Diabetes
 Blurred or cloudy vision
 Arthritis
 Short-sightedness  Sensitivity to glare
 Injury/blow to the eye  Loss of colour vision
 Heredity  Frequent changes of Understanding
 Some blood pressure prescription glasses
lowering medications
 Poor night vision
A cataract has little to no effect on
Cataracts
vision in its early stages.

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Present information about the occurrence,
St Mary’s Road, Sydney, NSW symptoms, cause and treatment of
22224670 cataracts.
 The Eye
Occurrence
A cataract is a clouding of the
naturally clear lens in the eye.
They generally develop over a long
period of time, causing eyesight to
gradually get worse.
Behind the pupil is the lens, which
focus light rays onto the retina.
The retina is responsible for the
communication between the eye
and brain. If the lens becomes
clouded, light is distorted and
vision is reduced (which usually
occurs as we age). Gradually, the
vision resembles a similar effect of
looking through frosted glass or
fog.
Cataracts can cause blindness if
left untreated!
Treatment and Management
Detection
A cataract can be detected by an optometrist
as part of a usual check up routine, however if
one is suspected, a visit to the optometrist
will confirm this.
Detection usually occurs through a thorough
eye examination including: Top: normal vision. Bottom: same scene
as viewed by a person with a cataract.
 Visual acuity test – measurement of
how well you see at various distances.
 Dilated eye exam – drops are placed in
eyes to allow the retina to be
examined easily.
 Tonometry – measuring eye pressure.
Surgery
Treatment occurs through surgery; by
removing the cloudy lens of the eye, and
replacing it with a new lens made of a clear,
artificial material (usually plastic or silicone). Did you know?
Management
The prevalence of cataract rises from
Wearing glasses are only a temporary about 2.5 per cent for people in their
solution to the effects of cataracts, as eyesight 40’s to 99 per cent when in their 90’s.
will continue to get worse. Currently there Nearly half of people in their 90s have
are no medicines that can prevent the growth had cataract surgery.
of a cataract, however researchers believe
Cataract surgery is the most
good nutrition can help reduce the risk of age
commonly performed eye surgery in
related cataract.
Australia and is becoming even more
If you are 60 years or older, you should see an common as people live longer.
optometrist at least once every 2 years.
In 1999, approximately 120,000
cataract operations were performed.