The document discusses cataract, which is an age-related clouding of the lens in the eye that causes blurred or cloudy vision. Cataracts develop as proteins in the lens break down, making it less clear. Risk factors include aging, family history, diabetes, smoking, UV light exposure, and certain medications. Cataracts are diagnosed via eye exams and visual acuity tests. Treatment options range from glasses and lifestyle changes for mild cataracts to surgery to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with an artificial one.

1. Cataract: Lens
opacity, Age-related
cataract
© 2012 Right Doctor

2. Do you see cloudy or blurry images?
Do you have these symptoms?
 Poor night vision
 Colors seem faded
 Glare
 Cloudy or foggy vision
 Frequent prescription changes in your eye-glasses or contact-lenses
 Double vision
You may have cataract, please read further to know more…
© 2012 Right Doctor

3. Why does Cataract affect vision?
Cataract is the clouding of the lens in the eye that effects vision
Lens helps to
Lens helps to Retina changes
Retina changes
focus light or
focus light or light into nerve
light into nerve
image on the
image on the signals sent to
signals sent to
retina
retina the brain
the brain
Lens must be
Lens must be If the lens is
If the lens is
clear for the
clear for the cloudy, the
cloudy, the
retina to receive
retina to receive image will
image will
aasharp image
sharp image appear blur
appear blur
© 2012 Right Doctor

4. How does Cataract develop?
•The lens consists mostly of water and protein. As we age, proteins in
the lens begin to break down and the lens becomes cloudy.
•This more often occurs in or near old age, progress being slow and
painless.
•Other risk factors include:
 Certain diseases (for e.g.
diabetes)
 Prolonged use of some drugs
 History of cataract in
 Smoking and consumption
parents/elders
of alcohol
 Prolonged exposure to
ultraviolet sunlight
© 2012 Right Doctor

5. Common Myths
Cataract is infectious?
Cataract does not spread from one eye to the other.
If one eye has cataract other eye also will have…
If you are detected with cataract in one eye, chances
are that the other eye often has catarectus changes.
It is very normal that one eye may be more affected
than the other
If detected with cataract I have to undergo surgery
immediately?
Cataract needs to be removed only when vision
impairment or loss interferes with your everyday
Cataract eye – Cloudy and Opaque
activities, such as driving, reading, or watching TV
lens
© 2012 Right Doctor

6. Diagnosis
Cataract is detected through a comprehensive eye exam that includes:
Visual acuity test: This eye chart Dilated eye exam: Drops are
test measures how well you see placed in your eyes to widen,
at various distances and by or dilate the pupils and eyes
observing opacity in the centre of examined with light
the eye – the pupil.
Dilated eye
Typical Snellen chart used for visual
acuity testing.
© 2012 Right Doctor

7. Treatment
Non Surgical - For early cataract , change of eyeglasses, use of brighter light,
anti-glare sunglasses, or magnifying lenses may help.
Surgery - If these measures do not help, surgery is the only effective
treatment. It involves replacing the cloudy lens with artificial lens. In such
situations it is advisable to consult your Eye surgeon.
Artificial Lens
If cataract does not produce too many symptoms or difficulties, treatment
If cataract does not produce too many symptoms or difficulties, treatment
could be deferred to convenient time at the same time, too much of delay
could be deferred to convenient time at the same time, too much of delay
can result in damage to the eye.
can result in damage to the eye.
© 2012 Right Doctor

8. Disclaimer : The intent of the information provided
by Right Doctor is to increase public awareness and
should not be treated as a medical advice. A eye
surgeon should be consulted for proper medical
guidance
© 2012 Right Doctor