Cataracts, Causes, Symptoms And Treatment

The cataract, (literally ‘a waterfall’) is the most common cause of blindness in the USA. It is a clouding of the lens of the eye and increasing age, infection or trauma can cause the condition. Excess exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation (e.g. from the sun) can cause cataracts.

An astonishing 95% of people over the age of 65 develop some sort of cataract. To remove a cataract, the surgeon must remove the whole lens of the eye and replace it with an artificial one. Clear vision is restored for distant vision, but near vision is lost so the patient must wear glasses.

An early technique to remove cataracts was couching, which involved a thin needle or stick to remove the cataract. This technique was used in Roman times and continued throughout the Middle Ages. It is still used in third world countries today.

Nowadays, its easy to avoid cataracts due to UV rays - wear your sunglasses outside and in the car to protect your eyes! Especially when you are at the snow, as light is easily reflected off the snow and ice. Also, it’s not enough to have sunnys that just cover the front of your face, as light can come in through the sides.