Within the eye is a small marble shaped structure called the lens.
Normally clear, the lens focuses light on the retina. For a
variety of reasons, the lens may become opaque or cloudy, and light does
not pass through sharply. As a result a person with a cataract may
experience a drop in visual acuity, glare, difficulty in seeing at
night, poor contrast sensitivity or other symptoms.
Causes
of cataracts vary.
In children they can be present at birth or develop during a young age.
While often a problem isolated to the eye and without known cause, they
can occur secondary to an infection in utero, be part of a syndrome
involving other parts or the eye or the child, be genetic, be associated
with metabolic or hormonal disorders or occur after trauma.
In
children, cataracts often need to be removed promptly, to avoid a lazy
eye (amblyopia). Occasionally, the cataracts may be observed
carefully, monitoring the vision frequently. Often a thorough evaluation
by a pediatrician is warranted to rule out any underlying problems.
In
adults, cataracts may be associated with infection, trauma,
metabolic or hormonal disorders (ie: diabetes), genetics, ultraviolet
light (sun) exposure, and other causes. Most commonly, adult cataracts
are associated with the aging process.
When
an adult's vision is affected to the point that his or her lifestyle is
altered, then treatment is indicated. This rationale implies that
merely having a lens opacity is not an indication for surgery. One must
be unhappy with one's ability to drive, read, watch television or
perform other tasks before the cataract should be removed. Merely
changing an eyeglass prescription may be an adequate treatment.
If
surgery is indicated, modern procedures exist which allow for a
quick, painless outpatient operation, without stitches or general
anesthesia. By replacing the native lens with an artificial plastic
lens, custom designed to fit in the eye and focus light on the retina,
most patients will not need glasses for most tasks. Although risks to
all surgeries are present, those associated with cataract extraction
and lens implantation are minimized with an experienced surgeon and
modern equipment.
~ Peter S. Schwartz, MD
.
