Cataract
What is a cataract?
A cataract is a clouding of the natural lens of the eye - caused by morphological changes - that leads to a gradual reduction in vision.
In a healthy eye, the lens is completely clear and allows light to pass through to the retina. With a cataract, the lens becomes cloudy - making images blurry, unclear, and lower in contrast.
Today, this condition is the most common cause of reduced vision quality - particularly in people over 50, but also in younger individuals.
How does a cataract develop?
A cataract most commonly develops as a result of the natural ageing process (age-related cataract), but may also be caused by:
diabetes
long-term use of certain medications (e.g. corticosteroids)
eye injuries
genetic predisposition
congenital changes (cataracts in children)
What are the symptoms of a cataract?
A cataract develops gradually, causes no pain, and the most common symptoms are:
cloudy and foggy vision
difficulty reading and watching television
increased sensitivity to light
poor vision at night
faded or changed colours
more frequent need to change glasses
Types of cataract
Cataracts do not develop the same way in all patients. Depending on where in the lens the clouding occurs, different types are distinguished - each may cause slightly different symptoms.
Nuclear cataract (central)
The most common form - associated with the aging process. Clouding occurs in the central part of the lens (the nucleus), which gradually becomes denser and darker.
How it affects vision:
vision gradually becomes cloudy
a temporary improvement in near vision may occur ("second sight")
colours appear yellowish or brownish
It develops slowly, often over many years.
Cortical cataract
Clouding begins in the outer layers of the lens and spreads towards the centre. Often has a characteristic appearance of "spokes" or "radiating changes."
How it affects vision:
strong light and glare are particularly bothersome (e.g. headlights at night)
makes night driving difficult
may cause double vision or light scatter
Symptoms are often more pronounced in certain lighting conditions.
Posterior subcapsular cataract
Occurs at the back of the lens - right where light enters the eye. Although smaller in size, it often produces more pronounced symptoms.
How it affects vision:
rapid deterioration of vision
significant difficulties reading
strong sensitivity to light
problems in bright daylight
More common in younger people, diabetics, or patients using corticosteroids.
Congenital cataract
Present from birth or develops in early childhood. May affect one or both eyes and requires special monitoring and treatment.
Important:
may affect the development of vision in children
often detected during routine examinations
in some cases requires early surgery
How does a cataract progress?
Regardless of type, a cataract has a progressive course over time and may be:
early (initial)
developed
mature
hypermature
Today, waiting for an advanced stage is not necessary - surgery is recommended when the cataract begins to interfere with daily life.
How is a cataract detected?
A cataract is detected by a simple and painless ophthalmological examination. In most cases, the full examination - including pupil dilation - takes up to 60 minutes and is completely painless. Diagnosis is made quickly with a few basic tests:
Slit-lamp examination - the doctor directly examines the lens and can detect clouding, its location, and the stage of development.
Visual acuity test - a standard letter-reading test to assess how much vision has been reduced.
Fundus examination - after pupil dilation, the doctor examines the back of the eye (retina and optic nerve) - important for planning surgery and ruling out other problems.
Additional diagnostics - if surgery is being considered, precise eye measurements (biometry) are taken to determine the power of the artificial lens.
How is a cataract treated?
There is no medication or eye drop that can remove a cataract. Surgery is the only effective treatment.
During the operation:
the clouded natural lens is removed
an artificial (intraocular) lens is implanted
Cataract surgery is quick, painless, and today one of the most commonly performed and most successful surgical procedures in medicine. For more information about the procedure and what to expect, visit the Cataract Surgery page.
Frequently asked questions
Can the progression of a cataract be slowed without surgery?
There is no medication or eye drop that can remove or stop a cataract. Protection from strong UV radiation and good diabetes management may slow progression to some degree - but surgery remains the only effective treatment.
Can glasses make up for vision reduced by a cataract?
Glasses may help temporarily in the early stages, but cannot stop the progression or remove the clouding. As the cataract progresses, prescription changes become more frequent and vision worsens - until glasses no longer help enough. At that point, surgery is the only solution.
Blurry vision has a solution.
A cataract is treatable with surgery that is short, painless, and highly successful - the right time for the procedure is determined at an examination.