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Cataract

Medical Questions » Cataract
Name: Cataract
Also known as:
Damage to the lens in the eye resulting in reduced vision.
Causes of Cataract
A cloudy lens in the eye, which may be present from birth, or may be caused by injury or infection to the eye, but the cause in older people is unknown. Most people over 70 years of age have some degree of cataract formation.
Symptoms of Cataract
Reduced, cloudy vision with poor colour discrimination.
Tests for Cataract
Diagnosed by examining the eye with an ophthalmoscope (magnifying light).
Treatment for Cataract
Initially treated with powerful spectacles, but eye surgery to replace the damaged lens is the best solution. Only one eye (usually the worst one) will be operated upon initially. Once this has recovered, the second eye may be repaired. The procedure can be done under a general or local anaesthetic, and involves cutting open the top of the eye at the edge of the iris (the coloured part of the eye), removing the damaged lens by gentle suction, and inserting an artificial lens in its place.
Complications of Cataract of its treatment
Dislocation of the new lens, or infection of the eye are uncommon.
Likely Outcome of Cataract
More than 95% of patients achieve excellent results with surgery.
       
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