SlideShare a Scribd company logo
1 of 14
Download to read offline
CATARACT

Members: Bryan Lim Lo Suy, Julia
 Acapulco, Ben Francisco, Ariane
Pineda, Lizter Chan, Alexa Bacong
What is Cataract?
• Cataracts are changes in clarity of the
  natural lens inside the eye that gradually
  degrade visual quality.
• Clouding that develops in the crystalline
  lens of the eye or in its envelope (lens
  capsule), varying in degree from slight to
  complete opacity and obstructing the passage
  of light
Cataract
Cause
• The lens is made mostly of water and protein.
  Specific proteins within the lens are
  responsible for maintaining its clarity. But as
  we age, some of the protein may clump
  together and start to cloud a small area of the
  lens. This is a cataract, and over time, it may
  grow larger and cloud more of the
  lens, making it harder to see. The following
  causes are...
• Ultraviolet radiation from sunlight and other sources
        -Sunlight consists of ultraviolet (referred to as UVA or UVB)
  radiation, which penetrates the layers of the skin. Both UVA and UVB have
  destructive properties that can promote cataracts. The eyes are protected
  from the sun by eyelids and the structure of the face (overhanging
  brows, prominent cheekbones, and the nose). Long-term exposure to
  sunlight, however, can overcome these defenses.
• Diabetes
        -High blood sugar in diabetes causes the lens of the eye to
  swell, which changes your ability to see. To correct this kind of eye
  problem, you need to get your blood sugar back into the target range (90-
  130 milligrams per deciliter or mg/dL before meals, and less than 180
  mg/dL one to two hours after a meal). It may take as long as three months
  after your blood sugar is well controlled for your vision to fully get back to
  normal.
• Hypertension
•   Obesity
•   Smoking
           -Cigarette smoking is a definite risk factor for cataracts and it is dose related
    - the more you smoke and the longer the duration of smoking, the greater the
    cataract risk.
•   Prolonged use of corticosteroid medications
            -Because oral corticosteroids affect your entire body instead of just a
    particular area, this form is the most likely to cause significant side effects. Side
    effects depend on the dose of medication you receive.
           - Corticosteroids mimic the effects of hormones your body produces
    naturally in your adrenal glands, which sit atop your kidneys. When prescribed in
    doses that exceed your body's usual levels, corticosteroids suppress
    inflammation, which can reduce the signs and symptoms of inflammatory
    conditions, such as arthritis and asthma.
•   Statin medicines used to reduce cholesterol
           -"Statins" is a class of drugs that lowers the level of cholesterol in the blood
    by reducing the production of cholesterol by the liver. (The other source of
    cholesterol in the blood is dietary cholesterol.) Statins block the enzyme in the
    liver that is responsible for making cholesterol.
•   Previous eye injury ,Inflammation or Previous eye surgery
•   Hormone replacement therapy
•   Significant alcohol consumption
•   High myopia
•   Family history
Types of Cataract
• A subcapsular cataract occurs at the back of the lens.
  People with diabetes or those taking high doses of
  steroid medications have a greater risk of developing a
  subcapsular cataract.
• A nuclear cataract forms deep in the central zone
  (nucleus) of the lens. Nuclear cataracts usually are
  associated with aging.
• A cortical cataract is characterized by white, wedge-
  like opacities that start in the periphery of the lens and
  work their way to the center in a spoke-like fashion.
  This type of cataract occurs in the lens cortex, which is
  the part of the lens that surrounds the central nucleus.
Who usually gets affected by Cataract?
• While cataracts are often associated with
  aging, there is no hard and fast rule as to who
  gets them. They can form in adults as early as
  age 40. They can also affect babies and small
  children. In some cases, they are hereditary.
How to prevent getting Cataract?
• The standard cataract surgical procedure is typically
  performed in either a hospital or in an ambulatory surgery
  center. The most common form of cataract surgery today is
  a process called phacoemulsification. With the use of an
  operating microscope, your surgeon will make a very small
  incision in the surface of the eye in or near the cornea. A
  thin ultrasound probe is inserted into the eye that uses
  ultrasonic vibrations to dissolve (phacoemulsify) the
  clouded lens. These tiny fragmented pieces are then
  suctioned out through the same ultrasound probe. Once
  the cataract is removed, an artificial lens is placed into the
  same thin capsular bag that the cataract occupied.
  This intraocular lens is essential to help your eye focus after
  surgery.
There are three basic techniques for cataract surgery:
• Phacoemulsification: This is the most common form of cataract removal as
   explained above. In this most modern method, cataract surgery can usually be
   performed in less than 30 minutes and usually requires only minimal sedation
   and numbing drops, no stitches to close the wound, and no eye patch after
   surgery.


•   Extracapsular cataract surgery: This procedure is used mainly for very
    advanced cataracts where the lens is too dense to dissolve into fragments
    (phacoemulsify) or in facilities that do not have phacoemulsification
    technology. This technique requires a larger incision so that the cataract can be
    removed in one piece without being fragmented inside the eye. An artificial
    lens is placed in the same capsular bag as with the phacoemulsification
    technique. This surgical technique requires a various number of sutures to
    close the larger wound, and visual recovery is often slower. Extracapsular
    cataract extraction usually requires an injection of numbing medication around
    the eye and an eye patch after surgery.


•   Intracapsular cataract surgery: This surgical technique requires an even larger
    wound than extracapsular surgery, and the surgeon removes the entire lens
    and the surrounding capsule together. This technique requires the intraocular
    lens to be placed in a different location, in front of the iris. This method is
    rarely used today but can be still be useful in cases of significant trauma.
Complications of Cataract Surgery
•   While cataract surgery is one of the safest procedures available with a high rate of
    success, rare complications can arise. Your ophthalmologist will discuss the specific
    potential complications of the procedure that are unique to your eye prior to
    having you sign a consent form. The most common difficulties arising after surgery
    are persistent inflammation, changes in eye pressure, infection, or swelling of the
    retina at the back of the eye, and retinal detachment. If the delicate bag the lens
    sits in is injured, then the artificial lens may need to be placed in a different
    location. In very rare cases, the intraocular lens moves or does not function
    properly and may need to be repositioned, exchanged, or removed. All of these
    complications are extremely rare but can lead to significant visual loss if left
    untreated; thus, close follow-up is required after surgery.

•   In some cases, within months to years after surgery the thin lens capsule may
    become cloudy, and you may have the sensation that the cataract is returning
    because your vision is becoming blurry again. This process is termed posterior
    capsule opacification, or a "secondary cataract." To restore vision, a laser is used in
    the office to painlessly create a hole in the cloudy bag. This procedure takes only a
    few minutes in the office, and vision usually improves rapidly.
How to avoid/ Prevention of Cataract
• At present, there is no real effective way to prevent the
  formation of cataracts, so secondary prevention involves
  controlling other eye diseases that can cause cataracts and
  minimizing exposure to factors that promote cataracts...

• Wearing sunglasses outside during the day might reduce
  your chances of developing cataracts or having problems
  with the retina. Some sunglasses can filter out UV
  light, reducing exposure to harmful UV radiation and might
  slow the progression of cataracts.
• Some people take vitamins, minerals, and herbal
  extracts to decrease cataract formation. No scientific
  data prove that these remedies are effective. No
  topical or oral medications or supplements are proven
  to decrease the chance of developing cataracts.

• A healthy lifestyle might help, just as a healthy lifestyle
  helps prevent other diseases in the body. Eat a proper
  diet, get regular exercise and rest, and do not smoke.


• If you have diabetes, tight blood-sugar control can
  delay the otherwise accelerated development of
  cataracts.
• http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/ca
  taracts.htm
• http://www.swedish.org/Services/Eye-
  Surgery/Services/Cataract-
  Treatment#axzz2CfJ4JqPz
• http://www.emedicinehealth.com/cataracts

More Related Content

What's hot (20)

cataract-information
 cataract-information cataract-information
cataract-information
 
Pre and post operative management of cataract
Pre and post operative management of cataractPre and post operative management of cataract
Pre and post operative management of cataract
 
Cataract and its management
Cataract and its managementCataract and its management
Cataract and its management
 
CATARACT CASE PRESENTATION(CASE STUDY)
CATARACT CASE PRESENTATION(CASE STUDY)CATARACT CASE PRESENTATION(CASE STUDY)
CATARACT CASE PRESENTATION(CASE STUDY)
 
The Routine LASIK Procedure
The Routine LASIK Procedure The Routine LASIK Procedure
The Routine LASIK Procedure
 
Cataract
CataractCataract
Cataract
 
Management of Cataract
Management of CataractManagement of Cataract
Management of Cataract
 
Management of cataract
Management of cataractManagement of cataract
Management of cataract
 
Posterior segment complications of refractive surgery
Posterior segment complications of refractive surgeryPosterior segment complications of refractive surgery
Posterior segment complications of refractive surgery
 
Cataract
CataractCataract
Cataract
 
Lasik eye surgery
Lasik eye surgeryLasik eye surgery
Lasik eye surgery
 
Cataract
CataractCataract
Cataract
 
Lasik Surgeon in Indore | Lasik Treatment in Indore | Vinayak Netralaya
Lasik Surgeon in Indore | Lasik Treatment in Indore | Vinayak NetralayaLasik Surgeon in Indore | Lasik Treatment in Indore | Vinayak Netralaya
Lasik Surgeon in Indore | Lasik Treatment in Indore | Vinayak Netralaya
 
Cataract jem
Cataract jemCataract jem
Cataract jem
 
Cataract
CataractCataract
Cataract
 
Cataract
CataractCataract
Cataract
 
Cataract
CataractCataract
Cataract
 
Introduction to Refractive Eye Surgery
Introduction to Refractive Eye SurgeryIntroduction to Refractive Eye Surgery
Introduction to Refractive Eye Surgery
 
Cataract
CataractCataract
Cataract
 
Clear the haze
Clear the hazeClear the haze
Clear the haze
 

Similar to Cataract

CATARACTS.pptx
CATARACTS.pptxCATARACTS.pptx
CATARACTS.pptxAkshitaC3
 
D l Cataract Iinformation
D l Cataract IinformationD l Cataract Iinformation
D l Cataract IinformationAzizi Ahmad
 
0 Eyes And Cataract T H
0  Eyes And  Cataract  T H0  Eyes And  Cataract  T H
0 Eyes And Cataract T Hanhthuan
 
cataract....seminar....111.pptx
cataract....seminar....111.pptxcataract....seminar....111.pptx
cataract....seminar....111.pptxIiiHshksk
 
Demystifying Cataracts and Cataract Surgery
Demystifying Cataracts and Cataract SurgeryDemystifying Cataracts and Cataract Surgery
Demystifying Cataracts and Cataract SurgerySummit Health
 
Retinal detachment new
Retinal detachment newRetinal detachment new
Retinal detachment newyogesh tiwari
 
Global Medical Cures™ | CATARACT (What you should know)
Global Medical Cures™ | CATARACT (What you should know)Global Medical Cures™ | CATARACT (What you should know)
Global Medical Cures™ | CATARACT (What you should know)Global Medical Cures™
 
Webcataract
WebcataractWebcataract
Webcataractdoctks
 
Eye Disorders.pptx
Eye Disorders.pptxEye Disorders.pptx
Eye Disorders.pptxmousaderhem1
 

Similar to Cataract (20)

CATARACTS.pptx
CATARACTS.pptxCATARACTS.pptx
CATARACTS.pptx
 
D l Cataract Iinformation
D l Cataract IinformationD l Cataract Iinformation
D l Cataract Iinformation
 
0 Eyes And Cataract T H
0  Eyes And  Cataract  T H0  Eyes And  Cataract  T H
0 Eyes And Cataract T H
 
Cataract Dv
Cataract DvCataract Dv
Cataract Dv
 
Cataract Dv
Cataract DvCataract Dv
Cataract Dv
 
Cataract150
Cataract150Cataract150
Cataract150
 
Cataract therapy
Cataract therapyCataract therapy
Cataract therapy
 
10. 1 disorders of retina
10. 1 disorders of retina10. 1 disorders of retina
10. 1 disorders of retina
 
cataract.pptx
cataract.pptxcataract.pptx
cataract.pptx
 
cataract....seminar....111.pptx
cataract....seminar....111.pptxcataract....seminar....111.pptx
cataract....seminar....111.pptx
 
Demystifying Cataracts and Cataract Surgery
Demystifying Cataracts and Cataract SurgeryDemystifying Cataracts and Cataract Surgery
Demystifying Cataracts and Cataract Surgery
 
Retinal detachment new
Retinal detachment newRetinal detachment new
Retinal detachment new
 
Catract ppt
Catract pptCatract ppt
Catract ppt
 
Cataract surgery
Cataract surgeryCataract surgery
Cataract surgery
 
Global Medical Cures™ | CATARACT (What you should know)
Global Medical Cures™ | CATARACT (What you should know)Global Medical Cures™ | CATARACT (What you should know)
Global Medical Cures™ | CATARACT (What you should know)
 
Cataract
CataractCataract
Cataract
 
Webcataract
WebcataractWebcataract
Webcataract
 
Eye Disorders.pptx
Eye Disorders.pptxEye Disorders.pptx
Eye Disorders.pptx
 
Cataract
Cataract Cataract
Cataract
 
Retinal disorders
Retinal disordersRetinal disorders
Retinal disorders
 

Recently uploaded

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE, RADIATIONBIOLOGY& RADIATION HAZARD...
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE, RADIATIONBIOLOGY& RADIATION HAZARD...QUESTIONS & ANSWERS FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE, RADIATIONBIOLOGY& RADIATION HAZARD...
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE, RADIATIONBIOLOGY& RADIATION HAZARD...Ganesan Yogananthem
 
concept of total quality management (TQM).
concept of total quality management (TQM).concept of total quality management (TQM).
concept of total quality management (TQM).kishan singh tomar
 
High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC)
High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC)High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC)
High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC)kishan singh tomar
 
CONNECTIVE TISSUE (ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY).pdf
CONNECTIVE TISSUE (ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY).pdfCONNECTIVE TISSUE (ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY).pdf
CONNECTIVE TISSUE (ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY).pdfDolisha Warbi
 
Pharmacokinetic Models by Dr. Ram D. Bawankar.ppt
Pharmacokinetic Models by Dr. Ram D.  Bawankar.pptPharmacokinetic Models by Dr. Ram D.  Bawankar.ppt
Pharmacokinetic Models by Dr. Ram D. Bawankar.pptRamDBawankar1
 
BENIGN BREAST DISEASE
BENIGN BREAST DISEASE BENIGN BREAST DISEASE
BENIGN BREAST DISEASE Mamatha Lakka
 
CPR.nursingoutlook.pdf , Bsc nursing student
CPR.nursingoutlook.pdf , Bsc nursing studentCPR.nursingoutlook.pdf , Bsc nursing student
CPR.nursingoutlook.pdf , Bsc nursing studentsaileshpanda05
 
General_Studies_Presentation_Health_and_Wellbeing
General_Studies_Presentation_Health_and_WellbeingGeneral_Studies_Presentation_Health_and_Wellbeing
General_Studies_Presentation_Health_and_WellbeingAnonymous
 
FDMA FLAP - The first dorsal metacarpal artery (FDMA) flap is used mainly for...
FDMA FLAP - The first dorsal metacarpal artery (FDMA) flap is used mainly for...FDMA FLAP - The first dorsal metacarpal artery (FDMA) flap is used mainly for...
FDMA FLAP - The first dorsal metacarpal artery (FDMA) flap is used mainly for...Shubhanshu Gaurav
 
Bulimia nervosa ( Eating Disorders) Mental Health Nursing.
Bulimia nervosa ( Eating Disorders) Mental Health Nursing.Bulimia nervosa ( Eating Disorders) Mental Health Nursing.
Bulimia nervosa ( Eating Disorders) Mental Health Nursing.aarjukhadka22
 
Trustworthiness of AI based predictions Aachen 2024
Trustworthiness of AI based predictions Aachen 2024Trustworthiness of AI based predictions Aachen 2024
Trustworthiness of AI based predictions Aachen 2024EwoutSteyerberg1
 
Female Reproductive Physiology Before Pregnancy
Female Reproductive Physiology Before PregnancyFemale Reproductive Physiology Before Pregnancy
Female Reproductive Physiology Before PregnancyMedicoseAcademics
 
Clinical Research Informatics Year-in-Review 2024
Clinical Research Informatics Year-in-Review 2024Clinical Research Informatics Year-in-Review 2024
Clinical Research Informatics Year-in-Review 2024Peter Embi
 
Male Infertility, Antioxidants and Beyond
Male Infertility, Antioxidants and BeyondMale Infertility, Antioxidants and Beyond
Male Infertility, Antioxidants and BeyondSujoy Dasgupta
 
Different drug regularity bodies in different countries.
Different drug regularity bodies in different countries.Different drug regularity bodies in different countries.
Different drug regularity bodies in different countries.kishan singh tomar
 
SGK RỐI LOẠN KALI MÁU CỰC KỲ QUAN TRỌNG.pdf
SGK RỐI LOẠN KALI MÁU CỰC KỲ QUAN TRỌNG.pdfSGK RỐI LOẠN KALI MÁU CỰC KỲ QUAN TRỌNG.pdf
SGK RỐI LOẠN KALI MÁU CỰC KỲ QUAN TRỌNG.pdfHongBiThi1
 
introduction to neurology (nervous system, areas, motor and sensory systems)
introduction to neurology (nervous system, areas, motor and sensory systems)introduction to neurology (nervous system, areas, motor and sensory systems)
introduction to neurology (nervous system, areas, motor and sensory systems)Mohamed Rizk Khodair
 
Physiology of Smooth Muscles -Mechanics of contraction and relaxation
Physiology of Smooth Muscles -Mechanics of contraction and relaxationPhysiology of Smooth Muscles -Mechanics of contraction and relaxation
Physiology of Smooth Muscles -Mechanics of contraction and relaxationMedicoseAcademics
 
Breast cancer -ONCO IN MEDICAL AND SURGICAL NURSING.pptx
Breast cancer -ONCO IN MEDICAL AND SURGICAL NURSING.pptxBreast cancer -ONCO IN MEDICAL AND SURGICAL NURSING.pptx
Breast cancer -ONCO IN MEDICAL AND SURGICAL NURSING.pptxNaveenkumar267201
 
The Importance of Mental Health: Why is Mental Health Important?
The Importance of Mental Health: Why is Mental Health Important?The Importance of Mental Health: Why is Mental Health Important?
The Importance of Mental Health: Why is Mental Health Important?Ryan Addison
 

Recently uploaded (20)

QUESTIONS & ANSWERS FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE, RADIATIONBIOLOGY& RADIATION HAZARD...
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE, RADIATIONBIOLOGY& RADIATION HAZARD...QUESTIONS & ANSWERS FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE, RADIATIONBIOLOGY& RADIATION HAZARD...
QUESTIONS & ANSWERS FOR QUALITY ASSURANCE, RADIATIONBIOLOGY& RADIATION HAZARD...
 
concept of total quality management (TQM).
concept of total quality management (TQM).concept of total quality management (TQM).
concept of total quality management (TQM).
 
High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC)
High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC)High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC)
High-Performance Thin-Layer Chromatography (HPTLC)
 
CONNECTIVE TISSUE (ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY).pdf
CONNECTIVE TISSUE (ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY).pdfCONNECTIVE TISSUE (ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY).pdf
CONNECTIVE TISSUE (ANATOMY AND PHYSIOLOGY).pdf
 
Pharmacokinetic Models by Dr. Ram D. Bawankar.ppt
Pharmacokinetic Models by Dr. Ram D.  Bawankar.pptPharmacokinetic Models by Dr. Ram D.  Bawankar.ppt
Pharmacokinetic Models by Dr. Ram D. Bawankar.ppt
 
BENIGN BREAST DISEASE
BENIGN BREAST DISEASE BENIGN BREAST DISEASE
BENIGN BREAST DISEASE
 
CPR.nursingoutlook.pdf , Bsc nursing student
CPR.nursingoutlook.pdf , Bsc nursing studentCPR.nursingoutlook.pdf , Bsc nursing student
CPR.nursingoutlook.pdf , Bsc nursing student
 
General_Studies_Presentation_Health_and_Wellbeing
General_Studies_Presentation_Health_and_WellbeingGeneral_Studies_Presentation_Health_and_Wellbeing
General_Studies_Presentation_Health_and_Wellbeing
 
FDMA FLAP - The first dorsal metacarpal artery (FDMA) flap is used mainly for...
FDMA FLAP - The first dorsal metacarpal artery (FDMA) flap is used mainly for...FDMA FLAP - The first dorsal metacarpal artery (FDMA) flap is used mainly for...
FDMA FLAP - The first dorsal metacarpal artery (FDMA) flap is used mainly for...
 
Bulimia nervosa ( Eating Disorders) Mental Health Nursing.
Bulimia nervosa ( Eating Disorders) Mental Health Nursing.Bulimia nervosa ( Eating Disorders) Mental Health Nursing.
Bulimia nervosa ( Eating Disorders) Mental Health Nursing.
 
Trustworthiness of AI based predictions Aachen 2024
Trustworthiness of AI based predictions Aachen 2024Trustworthiness of AI based predictions Aachen 2024
Trustworthiness of AI based predictions Aachen 2024
 
Female Reproductive Physiology Before Pregnancy
Female Reproductive Physiology Before PregnancyFemale Reproductive Physiology Before Pregnancy
Female Reproductive Physiology Before Pregnancy
 
Clinical Research Informatics Year-in-Review 2024
Clinical Research Informatics Year-in-Review 2024Clinical Research Informatics Year-in-Review 2024
Clinical Research Informatics Year-in-Review 2024
 
Male Infertility, Antioxidants and Beyond
Male Infertility, Antioxidants and BeyondMale Infertility, Antioxidants and Beyond
Male Infertility, Antioxidants and Beyond
 
Different drug regularity bodies in different countries.
Different drug regularity bodies in different countries.Different drug regularity bodies in different countries.
Different drug regularity bodies in different countries.
 
SGK RỐI LOẠN KALI MÁU CỰC KỲ QUAN TRỌNG.pdf
SGK RỐI LOẠN KALI MÁU CỰC KỲ QUAN TRỌNG.pdfSGK RỐI LOẠN KALI MÁU CỰC KỲ QUAN TRỌNG.pdf
SGK RỐI LOẠN KALI MÁU CỰC KỲ QUAN TRỌNG.pdf
 
introduction to neurology (nervous system, areas, motor and sensory systems)
introduction to neurology (nervous system, areas, motor and sensory systems)introduction to neurology (nervous system, areas, motor and sensory systems)
introduction to neurology (nervous system, areas, motor and sensory systems)
 
Physiology of Smooth Muscles -Mechanics of contraction and relaxation
Physiology of Smooth Muscles -Mechanics of contraction and relaxationPhysiology of Smooth Muscles -Mechanics of contraction and relaxation
Physiology of Smooth Muscles -Mechanics of contraction and relaxation
 
Breast cancer -ONCO IN MEDICAL AND SURGICAL NURSING.pptx
Breast cancer -ONCO IN MEDICAL AND SURGICAL NURSING.pptxBreast cancer -ONCO IN MEDICAL AND SURGICAL NURSING.pptx
Breast cancer -ONCO IN MEDICAL AND SURGICAL NURSING.pptx
 
The Importance of Mental Health: Why is Mental Health Important?
The Importance of Mental Health: Why is Mental Health Important?The Importance of Mental Health: Why is Mental Health Important?
The Importance of Mental Health: Why is Mental Health Important?
 

Cataract

  • 1. CATARACT Members: Bryan Lim Lo Suy, Julia Acapulco, Ben Francisco, Ariane Pineda, Lizter Chan, Alexa Bacong
  • 2. What is Cataract? • Cataracts are changes in clarity of the natural lens inside the eye that gradually degrade visual quality. • Clouding that develops in the crystalline lens of the eye or in its envelope (lens capsule), varying in degree from slight to complete opacity and obstructing the passage of light
  • 4. Cause • The lens is made mostly of water and protein. Specific proteins within the lens are responsible for maintaining its clarity. But as we age, some of the protein may clump together and start to cloud a small area of the lens. This is a cataract, and over time, it may grow larger and cloud more of the lens, making it harder to see. The following causes are...
  • 5. • Ultraviolet radiation from sunlight and other sources -Sunlight consists of ultraviolet (referred to as UVA or UVB) radiation, which penetrates the layers of the skin. Both UVA and UVB have destructive properties that can promote cataracts. The eyes are protected from the sun by eyelids and the structure of the face (overhanging brows, prominent cheekbones, and the nose). Long-term exposure to sunlight, however, can overcome these defenses. • Diabetes -High blood sugar in diabetes causes the lens of the eye to swell, which changes your ability to see. To correct this kind of eye problem, you need to get your blood sugar back into the target range (90- 130 milligrams per deciliter or mg/dL before meals, and less than 180 mg/dL one to two hours after a meal). It may take as long as three months after your blood sugar is well controlled for your vision to fully get back to normal. • Hypertension
  • 6. Obesity • Smoking -Cigarette smoking is a definite risk factor for cataracts and it is dose related - the more you smoke and the longer the duration of smoking, the greater the cataract risk. • Prolonged use of corticosteroid medications -Because oral corticosteroids affect your entire body instead of just a particular area, this form is the most likely to cause significant side effects. Side effects depend on the dose of medication you receive. - Corticosteroids mimic the effects of hormones your body produces naturally in your adrenal glands, which sit atop your kidneys. When prescribed in doses that exceed your body's usual levels, corticosteroids suppress inflammation, which can reduce the signs and symptoms of inflammatory conditions, such as arthritis and asthma. • Statin medicines used to reduce cholesterol -"Statins" is a class of drugs that lowers the level of cholesterol in the blood by reducing the production of cholesterol by the liver. (The other source of cholesterol in the blood is dietary cholesterol.) Statins block the enzyme in the liver that is responsible for making cholesterol. • Previous eye injury ,Inflammation or Previous eye surgery • Hormone replacement therapy • Significant alcohol consumption • High myopia • Family history
  • 7. Types of Cataract • A subcapsular cataract occurs at the back of the lens. People with diabetes or those taking high doses of steroid medications have a greater risk of developing a subcapsular cataract. • A nuclear cataract forms deep in the central zone (nucleus) of the lens. Nuclear cataracts usually are associated with aging. • A cortical cataract is characterized by white, wedge- like opacities that start in the periphery of the lens and work their way to the center in a spoke-like fashion. This type of cataract occurs in the lens cortex, which is the part of the lens that surrounds the central nucleus.
  • 8. Who usually gets affected by Cataract? • While cataracts are often associated with aging, there is no hard and fast rule as to who gets them. They can form in adults as early as age 40. They can also affect babies and small children. In some cases, they are hereditary.
  • 9. How to prevent getting Cataract? • The standard cataract surgical procedure is typically performed in either a hospital or in an ambulatory surgery center. The most common form of cataract surgery today is a process called phacoemulsification. With the use of an operating microscope, your surgeon will make a very small incision in the surface of the eye in or near the cornea. A thin ultrasound probe is inserted into the eye that uses ultrasonic vibrations to dissolve (phacoemulsify) the clouded lens. These tiny fragmented pieces are then suctioned out through the same ultrasound probe. Once the cataract is removed, an artificial lens is placed into the same thin capsular bag that the cataract occupied. This intraocular lens is essential to help your eye focus after surgery.
  • 10. There are three basic techniques for cataract surgery: • Phacoemulsification: This is the most common form of cataract removal as explained above. In this most modern method, cataract surgery can usually be performed in less than 30 minutes and usually requires only minimal sedation and numbing drops, no stitches to close the wound, and no eye patch after surgery. • Extracapsular cataract surgery: This procedure is used mainly for very advanced cataracts where the lens is too dense to dissolve into fragments (phacoemulsify) or in facilities that do not have phacoemulsification technology. This technique requires a larger incision so that the cataract can be removed in one piece without being fragmented inside the eye. An artificial lens is placed in the same capsular bag as with the phacoemulsification technique. This surgical technique requires a various number of sutures to close the larger wound, and visual recovery is often slower. Extracapsular cataract extraction usually requires an injection of numbing medication around the eye and an eye patch after surgery. • Intracapsular cataract surgery: This surgical technique requires an even larger wound than extracapsular surgery, and the surgeon removes the entire lens and the surrounding capsule together. This technique requires the intraocular lens to be placed in a different location, in front of the iris. This method is rarely used today but can be still be useful in cases of significant trauma.
  • 11. Complications of Cataract Surgery • While cataract surgery is one of the safest procedures available with a high rate of success, rare complications can arise. Your ophthalmologist will discuss the specific potential complications of the procedure that are unique to your eye prior to having you sign a consent form. The most common difficulties arising after surgery are persistent inflammation, changes in eye pressure, infection, or swelling of the retina at the back of the eye, and retinal detachment. If the delicate bag the lens sits in is injured, then the artificial lens may need to be placed in a different location. In very rare cases, the intraocular lens moves or does not function properly and may need to be repositioned, exchanged, or removed. All of these complications are extremely rare but can lead to significant visual loss if left untreated; thus, close follow-up is required after surgery. • In some cases, within months to years after surgery the thin lens capsule may become cloudy, and you may have the sensation that the cataract is returning because your vision is becoming blurry again. This process is termed posterior capsule opacification, or a "secondary cataract." To restore vision, a laser is used in the office to painlessly create a hole in the cloudy bag. This procedure takes only a few minutes in the office, and vision usually improves rapidly.
  • 12. How to avoid/ Prevention of Cataract • At present, there is no real effective way to prevent the formation of cataracts, so secondary prevention involves controlling other eye diseases that can cause cataracts and minimizing exposure to factors that promote cataracts... • Wearing sunglasses outside during the day might reduce your chances of developing cataracts or having problems with the retina. Some sunglasses can filter out UV light, reducing exposure to harmful UV radiation and might slow the progression of cataracts.
  • 13. • Some people take vitamins, minerals, and herbal extracts to decrease cataract formation. No scientific data prove that these remedies are effective. No topical or oral medications or supplements are proven to decrease the chance of developing cataracts. • A healthy lifestyle might help, just as a healthy lifestyle helps prevent other diseases in the body. Eat a proper diet, get regular exercise and rest, and do not smoke. • If you have diabetes, tight blood-sugar control can delay the otherwise accelerated development of cataracts.
  • 14. • http://www.allaboutvision.com/conditions/ca taracts.htm • http://www.swedish.org/Services/Eye- Surgery/Services/Cataract- Treatment#axzz2CfJ4JqPz • http://www.emedicinehealth.com/cataracts