Conditions InDepth: Cataracts

June 10, 2008 - 7:30am

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Conditions InDepth: Cataracts

A cataract is a clouding of the eye's lens that causes decreased vision. The lens of the eye focuses light rays onto the retina (the light sensitive tissue at the back of the eye) where an image is recorded. This allows us to see things clearly. The lens of the eye comprises mostly water and protein. The protein is arranged in a way that keeps the lens clear and lets light pass through it. A cataract develops when some of the protein clumps together and starts to cloud an area of the lens. A cataract won't spread from one eye to the other, although many people develop cataracts in both eyes.

Normal Anatomy of the Eye

As the cataract matures and gets cloudier, it may become difficult to read and do other normal tasks. Some people with “ripe” cataracts describe their vision as “trying to see through a waterfall.” Many people are not aware that their vision is blurry as cataracts usually progress slowly. That is just one reason why regular comprehensive eye examinations are important.

Cataract

The exact cause of this clouding is not known. However, a number of factors are known to contribute to the formation of cataracts, including, but not limited to:

Aging—Proteins in the lens change as part of the normal aging process. Aging is the most common contributing cause of cataracts.
Smoking
Medical conditions, such as diabetes
Certain infections
Eye injury or burns of the eye
Exposure to radiation
Taking steroid medications for a long period of time
Excessive exposure to sunlight
Birth defect (congenital cataract)
Excessive alcohol use

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References:

Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research website. Available at: http://www.mayo.edu/ .

The Merck Manual of Medical Information. 17th ed. Simon and Schuster, Inc; 2000.

National Eye Institute website. Available at: http://www.nei.nih.gov/ .

Last reviewed November 2008 by ]]>Christopher Cheyer, MD]]>

Please be aware that this information is provided to supplement the care provided by your physician. It is neither intended nor implied to be a substitute for professional medical advice. CALL YOUR HEALTHCARE PROVIDER IMMEDIATELY IF YOU THINK YOU MAY HAVE A MEDICAL EMERGENCY. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider prior to starting any new treatment or with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition.