Cataract
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A cataract is a clouding of the lens of the eye. They usually develop over a period of time and vision slowly becomes blurred.
There are two types of cataracts. The first and most common are senile (age - related) cataracts. The other type of cataract is called congenital cataracts. These cataracts are present at birth.
Causes
Risk factors that increase your chance of developing cataracts include:
- Diabetes
- Injury to the eye
- Medication - such as long term steroid use
- Exposure to ultraviolet light
- Smoking
- Excess Alcohol
- Family history of cataracts
Signs/symptoms
Symptoms of a cataract may include a deterioration of vision, spots in the vision, glare or halos from lights or the sun, double vision, difficulty driving at night, difficulty determining colours and frequent changes in glasses prescription.
Treatment
Glasses or contact lenses may improve your sight temporarily and delay surgery for those in the early stages of cataract development.
The only way to restore sight and preserve vision is to have the cataract surgically removed. This involves replacing the clouded lens with an artificial one.
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