What is Cataract?

The human crystalline lens, which is clear and transparent, is part of the focusing mechanism of the eye. With age, the lens becomes cloudy and opaque, thereby hampering normal vision. Any opacity in the crystalline lens, which leads to decreased vision, is cataract.


The early cataractous lens bends light irregularly, so the images formed are blurred and unclear. When opaque, the cataract may cut off light nearly in total, causing blindness (reversible).

What causes Cataract?

Aging is the most common cause. With age, proteins of the eye lens get altered and opacified leading to cataract. Other causes include congenital and developmental anomalies, trauma, inflammation of the eye, metabolic diseases like Diabetes, Hypothyroidism etc.

What are the common symptoms of Cataract?

Cataract makes simple tasks difficult and in some cases impossible to perform.

Some of the common symptoms of Cataract are:

• Cloudy or blurred vision

• Changes in one’s perception of colours

• Sensitivity to bright lamps or sunlight

• Poor night vision

• Difficulty in driving especially at night

• Frequent changes in eye glass prescription

Cataract should be removed as soon as it begins to affect daily activities. With any of the above mentioned symptoms setting in, it is the right time to go for Cataract removal. One should not wait for the cataract to get matured as unnecessary delay can lead to avoidable complications and more difficult surgery. Cataract Eye Surgery can be undertaken successfully in any season. Summer or rainy seasons have absolutely no effect on the outcome of the cataract surgery.

Cataract Eye Surgery

The crystalline lens is the main part of the focusing mechanism of human eye. The lens which is clear and transparent becomes cloudy and opaque with age and thereby hampering normal vision. Any opacity in the crystalline lens, which leads to decreased vision, is Cataract.

Aging is the most common cause for Cataract. Proteins of the eye get reduced with the age and this leads to Cataract. Other causes include congenital and developmental anomalies, trauma, inflammation of the eye and metabolic diseases like Diabetes and Hypothyroidism. Cataract makes simple tasks difficult and in some cases impossible to perform. In the early stage of Cataract the lens refracts light irregularly, so the images formed are blurred and unclear. In the chronic stage cataract may cut off light nearly in total, causing blindness.

Surgery is the only course of treatment for cataract. There are two options available for cataract surgery:

1. Conventional Cataract Surgery or Extra Capsular Cataract Extraction
2. Microincision Cataract Surgery (Phacoemulsification)

click here more details: Cataract Eye Surgery Treatment