CTARAATC
ANSWER: CATARACT
WHAT IS A CATARACT?
• A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye
that affects vision. Most cataracts are related to
aging. Cataracts are very common in older
people. By age 80, more than half of all
Americans either have a cataract or have had
cataract surgery.
• A cataract can occur in either or both eyes. It
cannot spread from one eye to the other.
WHAT CAUSES CATARACT?
• The lens lies behind the iris and the pupil. It works much
like a camera lens. It focuses light onto the retina at the
back of the eye, where an image is recorded. The lens
also adjusts the eye's focus, letting us see things clearly
both up close and far away. The lens is made of mostly
water and protein. The protein is arranged in a precise
way that keeps the lens clear and lets light pass
through it.
• But as we age, some of the protein may clump together
and start to cloud a small area of the lens. This is a
cataract. Over time, the cataract may grow larger and
cloud more of the lens, making it harder to see.
WHAT CAUSES CATARACT?
• Researchers suspect that there are several
causes of cataract, such as smoking and
diabetes. Or, it may be that the protein in the
lens just changes from the wear and tear it takes
over the years.
HOW DO CATARACTS AFFECT VISION?
Age-related cataracts can affect your vision in two ways:
• Clumps of protein reduce the sharpness of the image
reaching the retina. The lens consists mostly of water and
protein. When the protein clumps up, it clouds the lens and
reduces the light that reaches the retina. The clouding may
become severe enough to cause blurred vision. Most age-
related cataracts develop from protein clumpings. When a
cataract is small, the cloudiness affects only a small part of
the lens. You may not notice any changes in your vision.
Cataracts tend to “grow” slowly, so vision gets worse
gradually. Over time, the cloudy area in the lens may get
larger, and the cataract may increase in size. Seeing may
become more difficult. Your vision may get duller or blurrier.
WHO IS AT RISK FOR CATARACT?
The risk of cataract increases as you get
older. Other risk factors for cataract include:
• Certain diseases (for example, diabetes).
• Personal behavior (smoking, alcohol use).
• The environment (prolonged exposure to
ultraviolet sunlight).
WHAT ARE THE SYMPTOMS OF A CATARACT?
The most common symptoms of a cataract are:
• Cloudy or blurry vision.
• Colors seem faded.
• Glare. Headlights, lamps, or sunlight may appear too
bright. A halo may appear around lights.
• Poor night vision.
• Double vision or multiple images in one eye. (This
symptom may clear as the cataract gets larger.)
• Frequent prescription changes in your eyeglasses or
contact lenses.
HOW IS A CATARACT DETECTED?
Cataract is detected through a comprehensive eye
exam that includes:
• Visual acuity test. This eye chart test measures how well
you see at various distances.
• Dilated eye exam. Drops are placed in your eyes to widen,
or dilate, the pupils. Your eye care professional uses a
special magnifying lens to examine your retina and optic
nerve for signs of damage and other eye problems. After the
exam, your close-up vision may remain blurred for
several hours.
• Tonometry. An instrument measures the pressure inside the
eye. Numbing drops may be applied to your eye for this test.
HOW IS A CATARACT TREATED?
• When your prescription glasses can't clear your vision, the only effective treatment for
cataracts is surgery.
When to consider cataract surgery
• Talk with your eye doctor about whether surgery is right for you. Most eye doctors suggest
considering cataract surgery when your cataracts begin to affect your quality of life or
interfere with your ability to perform normal daily activities, such as reading or driving at
night.
• It's up to you and your doctor to decide when cataract surgery is right for you. For most
people, there is no rush to remove cataracts because they usually don't harm the eye. But
cataracts can worsen faster in people with diabetes.
• Delaying the procedure generally won't affect how well your vision recovers if you later
decide to have cataract surgery. Take time to consider the benefits and risks of cataract
surgery with your doctor.
• If you choose not to undergo cataract surgery now, your eye doctor may recommend periodic
follow-up exams to see if your cataracts are progressing. How often you'll see your eye
doctor depends on your situation.
QUESTION
What part of the eye is
affected by cataracts?
QUESTION
Cataracts are caused by the
clumping of proteins in the
affected part of the eye.
• ANSWERABLE BY TRUE OR FALSE
QUESTION
Smoking is a risk factor for
cataracts.
• ANSWERABLE BY TRUE OR FALSE
QUESTION
How much time must a patient
spend in the hospital after cataract
surgery?
QUESTION
WHAT IS TAGALOG OF CATARACT?
