Departments

Department of Cataract

What is a cataract ? Aetiology and Symptoms

- The cataract consists in the hazing of the natural lens of the eye. The natural lens of the eye is located behind the iris, has the size of a lentil and is normally clear. - It cannot be prevented, nor can it be treated with medication.- It is a very common condition with aging.- Sometimes it can be caused by a wound, some conditions (eg. diabetes, eye inflammations etc.) or medication, such as the chronic use of cortisone.- In rare cases, a child can be born with cataract (congenital cataract).

The main symptoms are:
- Hazing with progressive deterioration of vision (near or far). The vision becomes more and more unclear.
- Flashes and reflections around some objects.
- Diminished sense of colors.
- Severe difficulty in the sun.
- Absence of pain.

All of the above symptoms can hinder everyday activities, such as:
- Driving, especially at night or with very strong light.
- Reading or watching television. In some cases, in the initial stages of some types of cataract, one can read without needing glasses.
- Sewing or other activities which require the detailed inspection of objects.