A cataract is the clouding of the eye's natural lens. Our natural lens lies behind the iris and the pupil and its clouding can lead to vision impairment. Most cataracts are age-related disorders and people older than forty years of age are at a higher risk of developing this condition. They usually develop it in both eyes, though one eye may get affected more than the other.

To understand the cause of cataract, it is important to understand how the eye works. Light rays from an object are transmitted into the eye through the cornea, and focused on the retina by the lens behind the iris. When the lens becomes cloudy, it prevents light from passing through, leading to vision impairment.

The clouding of the lenses occurs as they become less flexible as you age. As tissues and cells in the lens breakdown with age, they clump together and cloud small areas on the eye's lens. This clouded area becomes larger over time, making the disorder to progress slowly as you age.

Other causes of cataracts include eye disorders, other health problems such as diabetes, injury to the eye or past eye surgery. Steroid medications can also cause cataracts.

There are various types of cataracts, depending on which part of the lens gets affected. Some of these are:

A slowly-progressing cataract at the centre of the lens – nuclear cataract.
Cataracts affecting the edges of the lens, leading to problems with glare – cortical cataract.
A cataract at the back of the lens, mostly affecting reading vision and leading to problems with glare – posterior capsular cataracts.
Cataracts that you may be born with – congenital cataracts.

When to seek expert advise

If you notice the onset of the above symptoms and changes in your vision, you must visit an eye specialist (ophthalmologist) for an evaluation. It is important to get started with treatment earlier to prevent extensive damage to your vision.

You can discuss your symptoms in complete confidence with your ophthalmologist working with the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences at The Aga Khan University Hospital. This will help your doctor diagnose the cause of vision changes, identify the presence of cataracts and come up with a personalized treatment plan for you.

Disclaimer

The information provided on our website is for educational purposes and not intended to be a substitute for medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. You should always seek the advice of your doctor or other healthcare professional provider.