When we talk about Cataracts we refer to the opacity that occurs in the crystalline, the natural lens of the eye behind the iris and pupil.

The lens is a transparent lens that, due to the passage of time or for other reasons, can appear opaquely adopting a color that can be yellowish, or even brown or blackish in the most severe cases.

This condition is the most common cause of loss of vision in people over forty, and the leading cause of blindness in the world. Hence the importance of knowing what can produce them. 

En Área Oftalmológica Avanzada we are experts in this disease and in the treatment to remove it, so below we explain all the types of Cataracts that exist.

types of cataracts

All types of cataracts there are

Cataracts are distinguished in three types: according to age, by the area in which they appear and other kinds of cataracts by the causes that cause it. Let's see what each of them consist of and what subtypes exist.

According to age

When the falls simply are caused by age, are defined as senile cataracts.

Senile falls

In this case, the cataracts are caused only by the passage of time, they constitute one of the most common eye diseases in the elderly and they appear without there being other reasons that precipitate their appearance.

By the area in which they are produced

It is usual to distinguish the falls by the place where they appear, and can be classified by the following subtypes:

Nuclear falls

The opacity occurs, in this case, in the nucleus or center of the lens. These cataracts tend to evolve slowly, affecting the distant vision more than the nearby one.

It is the most common type, and is usually related to age.

Cortical cataracts

Cortical cataracts are characterized by wedge-shaped white opacities that begin at the periphery of the lens and extend to the center radially. They occur in the lens's cortex, that is, the part that surrounds its central nucleus.

They are not as common as nuclear cataracts, and are sometimes associated with Diabetes Mellitus. They affect the near vision more.

Posterior subcapsular or posterior polar cataracts

They appear on the back and the outermost layer of the lens, hence they are called the rear polar. Contrary to what happens with nuclear cataracts, they usually progress very quickly. 

They are accompanied by glare, and people with diabetes or who usually taking medications With high doses of steroids they are at a higher risk of developing them. They are more frequent among young people than nuclear and cortical cataracts.

cataract classification

Other types of cataracts according to the cause that causes them

Regardless of age, and the area in which they arise, we can also distinguish other types of cataracts depending on the causes that originate them:

Metabolic cataracts

Metabolic cataracts appear associated with metabolic diseases, especially Diabetes Mellitus.

congenital cataracts

As you can tell by name, the congenital cataracts They are those that the person has since birth, or those that develop in the first three months of life.

Its appearance can be associated with genetic conditions or with a disease that the mother suffered during pregnancy, such as toxoplasmosis or rubella.

Traumatic falls

They are the cataracts that are produced by an eye trauma, whatever the type, and with total independence of the severity of the injury.

Toxic cataracts

They appear associated to the chronic use or to the abuse of certain drugs or toxic, being the corticosteroids the element that causes them the most.

What can I do if I have cataracts?

Once cataracts appear incipiently, they are can improve vision with new glasses, powerful bifocals, using the correct lighting and other visual measures.

When the cataracts have progressed to the point of seriously altering vision and affecting daily life, it is time to consider the cataract operation

Mistakenly, many people think that bad vision is inevitable in aging, when the truth is that the operation of cataracts is a very simple process, practically without discomfort, and that it can return a normal vision.

Up to nine out of ten people who decide to have cataract surgery recover their vision with a very high level of visual acuity. In this procedure, the surgeon removes the cloudy lens and replaces it with a intraocular lens (MESS).

Now that you know what the operation is like and its advantages, would you like to operate on cataracts? In Área Oftalmológica Avanzada as cataract surgery experts And we are at your disposal to give you our advice and accompany you throughout the entire process. Trust us and you can enjoy a better vision again. Contact us!

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Types of cataracts in the eyes Know them all!
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Types of cataracts in the eyes Know them all!
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From the point of view of ophthalmology there are various types of cataracts. We tell you how they can be classified.
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Área Oftalmológica Avanzada
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