Cataracts
What is a cataract?
Cataracts are clouding of the lens portion of the
eye. The result is much like smearing grease over the lens of
a camera and impairs normal vision.
Cataracts will affect most people if they live long
enough. This disorder affects 60 percent of people older than
60 and occurs when the normally clear, aspirin-sized lens of the
eye starts to become cloudy. impairing vision.
Experts estimate that over 1.2 million Americans
are diagnosed annually with cataracts that require treatment.
As there are growing numbers of elderly in the United States,
the incidence of cataracts is increasing. These persons often
want to continue driving cars, reading and traveling-activities
for which clear sight is vital.
Until recently, anyone who developed cataracts and
needed surgery faced a procedure that involved pain and often
less than satisfactory results. Until the late 1970s, doctors
removed the cloudy lens in a surgical procedure that required
a hospital stay of five to seven days. Afterward, the patient
had to wear thick "Coke bottle" glasses or contact lenses
neither of which could completely restore vision to its previous
level.
Today, there's little need for such complicated treatment.
Advances in medicine have made cataracts much less worrisome.
Now, the clouded lens is surgically removed and replaced with
a plastic intraocular lens (IOL) in an hourlong operation that
often requires no hospitalization.
"The intraocular lens has revolutionized the
treatment of cataracts." says Carl Kupfer. M.D., director
of the National Eye Institute in Bethesda, Md. "Implantation
of the lens is one of the most successful operations in
medicine."
Next: How does a cataract form? »
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From the Doctors at MedicineNet.com  |
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- Cataract Surgery - Get information about cataract surgery. Learn how it's performed, what to expect before and after surgery, risks, complications and the causes and diagnosis of cataracts. Source:MedicineNet
- LASIK Eye Surgery - Get information about LASIK, refractive surgery for vision correction (of astigmatism, nearsightedness, farsightedness), risk factors (dry eyes, high myopia or hyperopia) and benefits. Source:MedicineNet
- Tonometry - Get the facts on tonometry, a method for measuring intraocular pressure (IOP) and detecting glaucoma. Learn how tonometry is performed and the equipment that's used during the procedure. Source:MedicineNet
- Read 92 more Cataracts related articles ...
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Last Editorial Review: 4/22/2002
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