ANYONE CAN HAVE CATARACT



                                           
               
      Cataracts are the most common cause of vision loss in people over 40 and are the principal cause of blindness in the world. There are most cases of cataracts worldwide than glaucoma. Cataract refers to any opacity within the crystalline lens. Opacities may be acquired or congenital, focal or generalized, large or small, multiple or singular, and may affect any layer of the lens, nucleus or cortex, anterior or posterior.

       In a mature cataract the whole lens is opaque, whereas a hyper mature cataract has a loss of fluid from the lens causing shrinkage with wrinkling of the anterior capsule. Cataract can pose a marked threat to sight if left to develop rather than being operated. It is particularly a problem in developing countries with limited access to surgery.
                                   TYPES OF CATARACT
·  

      Nuclear cataract: It forms deep in the nucleus of the lens. It occurs with the hardening and brunescence of the nucleus. It is usually associated with age.
·      
  Subcapsular cataract: It occurs at the posterior migration of equatorial lens epithelial cells. Diabetic patients or people who take high doses of steroid medications are vulnerable to this type of cataract.
·    
    Cortical cataract: This leads to typical white, spoke-like opacities often with associated vacuoles or water clefts. It occurs in the lens cortex, which is a part of the lens that surrounds the central nucleus.
                                SYMPTOMS AND SIGNS
·        Hazy, blurred vision.
·        Sunlight may seem too bright to the eye.
·        In nuclear cataract, when it first develops there is temporary improvement in near vision which is called “second sight”, but it disappears as cataract worsens.
·        A Subcapsular cataract may not produce any symptom till it is well developed.
                             
                                  CAUSES OF CATARACT
·        Ultraviolent radiation.
·        Hypertension.
·        Obesity.
·        Smoking.
·        Previous eye surgery.
·        Previous eye inflammation.
·         High myopia.
·        Electrical shock.
·        Nutritional deprivation.
                                         PREVENTION
·        Intake of vitamin E reduces risk of cataract.
·        Intake of antioxidant vitamins such as vitamin C can reduce cataract risk.
                                           TREATMENT
·        In the early stage of cataract vision can be improved by using new glasses, strong bifocals or other visual aids.
·        In the late stage of cataract surgery is to be performed.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

INSTRUMENTS USED TO OBTAIN AND CORRECT REFRACTIVE ERROR

Image
                Refractive errors occurs when the shape of the eye prevents light emanating from infinity to form image on the retina. The length of the eyeball, changes in the shape of the cornea, or aging of the lens can cause refractive error.The most common types of refractive errors are myopia, hyperopia, presbyobia, and astigmatism. Below are the instrument used to obtain refractive status of the eye.
Read more

WHO IS AN OPTOMETRIST?

                Well as you all know I am a student of Optometry in Abia State University and on gaining admission into the department of Optometry I thought an Optometrist was an Optician, so I would say its not new for someone to be ignorant about who an Optometrist is.         Optometrists are the primary health care practitioners of the eye and visual system who provide comprehensive eye and vision care, which includes; refraction and dispensing, detection/diagnosis and management of diseases in the eye and the rehabilitation of conditions of the visual system. This the definition adopted by The World Council Optometry and World Health Organisation. This definition includes professional terms and not everyone will still quite get who an Optometrist is, that is why I will try to the best of my ability to explain further.          An Optometrist being a primary health care practitioner of the eye...
Read more

Is Optometry worth it?

  When I tell people I am studying optometry, the next thing they ask me is “was it your first choice?”. Of course, it wasn’t my first choice, Medicine and Surgery was the initial plan and I wanted to specialize in ophthalmology but due to my low JAMB score of 206, it would have been impossible to have studied that in Nigeria, so I went for Optometry. In my first year, it wasn’t looking like Optometry was something serious because of courses I was offering Chemistry, Physics, and Biology. In my second year it seemed like the heat was turned on a little when I encountered Biochemistry and Microbiology. I don’t think I would forget the nights of trying study the 20 Amino acids and their chemical structures, it was such a hassle.   I finally fell in love with Optometry in my third year, I enjoyed reading because it felt I was making new discoveries. Ocular Anatomy, Ocular Pharmacology, General Pathology, Human Physiology, General Anatomy, Geometrical Optics, Physiological Optic...
Read more