Just about everyone will get cataracts if they have enough birthdays. What most people don’t realize is that there is more than one type of cataract and that they can be caused by more than just getting older.
Nuclear Sclerosis Cataract
Cataracts are a clouding of the intra-ocular lens. The lens of the eye helps us adjust our focus from distance to near and is positioned just behind the colored part of the eye. The lens protects the eye from harmful UV sunlight and is a major component to the optical system of the eye. Without the intra-ocular lens, an individual with no glasses prescription would instead be about +20.00 dipoters farsighted.
Cataracts may be caused by age, genetics, trauma, drugs, metabolic disease (such as diabetes or hypothyroidism), eye-disease (such as uveitis), infections, or poor ocular development. The risk for developing a cataract is even higher for individuals who smoke, endure prolonged sun exposure (such as having an outdoor occupation), dehydration and chronic diarrhea.
The most common type of cataract is called nuclear sclerosis. This is just a general yellowing of the lens, usually due to aging. Another type of cataract is a cortical wedge-shaped or spoke-like cataract. Cortical cataracts are also common for the aging individual. Traumatic blunt-force injuries to the eye may cause star-shaped cataracts. Posterior subcapsular cataracts are located at the back, inside-surface of the intraocular lens. These cataracts can be the most devastating and often result in very poor vision.
Traumatic Cataract
The eye doctors at Iowa EyeCare are experts at the diagnosis of cataracts. Click here to schedule an appointment at one of our Cedar Rapids, Marion, or Robins locations. You may call 319-377-2222.
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