El crystalline It is the ocular lens where the images are formed and for it to work properly it must be totally transparent. Over time, the lens becomes opaque and causes blurred vision. This condition is known as catara and affects 50% of people over 65 years of age. Today we explain Why do cataracts appear in the eyes?

Although the most common cause is aging, there are other risk factors that can make a person more prone to suffer. In Área Oftalmológica Avanzada we explain what are the causes of cataracts and their treatment.

waterfalls in the eyes

What are cataracts?

Cataract is the loss of transparency of the lens. This condition occurs progressively and, in its most acute case, can considerably impair vision to the point of causing blindness. As the lens becomes more opaque, the person experiences different symptoms, blurred vision being the most characteristic sign of this condition.

The lens, like the rest of the human body, ages naturally, and as the years go by it loses its transparency. Depending on the area of ​​the lens that is affected, the following are known types of cataracts:

  • Subcapsular cataractIt occurs in the back of the lens and is more common in people with diabetes or who have used steroid medications for a long time.
  • Nuclear cataract: affects the central part of the lens and is the cataract associated with aging, therefore, it is the most common.
  • Cortical cataract: the lens presents white opacities in its periphery that extend radially to the center.

Why do cataracts leave in the eyes?

The lens is the natural lens of the eye that allows light rays to reflect on the retina to obtain a clear vision of the images at long and short distance. It is made up of water and proteins that allow light to pass through. However, over the years these proteins can form clusters that cloud a certain part of the lens and hinder correct vision.

Although it is known that its formation is associated with aging, it is not known exactly why cataracts appear in the eyes due to age and why this degeneration of the lens is due. What has been proven is that there are certain factors that can make a person more prone to cataracts, such as:

  • Diseases such as diabetes, hypertension and obesity.
  • Consumption of steroid medications, hormonal therapy and drugs for the treatment of high cholesterol.
  • eye surgery, high or magna myopia, eye inflammation.
  • Exposure to ultraviolet rays.
  • Family history of cataracts.
  • Smoking and alcoholism.

Cataract is a condition of progressive advancement. From the 45 years people begin to develop blurred vision because of the tired or presbyopic sight. After this slight loss of vision, the lens gradually begins to degenerate, giving rise to this condition.

Symptoms of cataracts

In its initial phase, the cataract does not cause any symptoms, most people have slightly blurred vision, but this discomfort is usually attributed to presbyopia. However, as the lens becomes more opaque the lights are perceived in the eye more brightly, which can become very annoying to the point that people avoid driving at night due to the discomfort generated by the lights of the cars. other cars.

Other characteristic symptom of the cataract is that the colors of the objects look less bright and the images are perceived as if they were being seen through a dirty glass, that is, the loss of visual sharpness is more evident.

In addition, frequent graduation changes may occur, which oblige a person to modify the formula of his glasses several times during the same year. The symptoms may be less or more serious depending on the type of cataracts that occur.

Treatment for cataracts in the eyes

When the cataract is in its initial phase the person can make use of glasses with bifocal lenses to help improve the vision and make the lights do not bother so much and the images look sharper. There are many people who manage to control the symptoms of cataracts for a long time, however, there are also those who see their vision compromised to such an extent that their quality of life is seriously affected, even forcing them to stop driving.

When the cataract is quite progressive and causes a cloudy vision that prevents the normal development of the person's life, it is necessary to correct this condition. The only way to treating the cataract definitively is through eye surgery, operation that involves removing the affected lens and replacing it with an artificial lens. To carry out this procedure there are two surgical alternatives:

  • Intracapsular surgeryIt is used in cases of very acute cataract and consists of completely removing the lens and the outer covering of the eye.
  • Extracapsular surgery: it is the surgery most used nowadays to treat cataract definitely. During this procedure the lens is removed and the outer covering of the eye is preserved. Instead of the lens, an intraocular lens will be placed that will allow the person to recover visual acuity immediately.

En Área Oftalmológica Avanzada we are a specialist in cataract operation in Barcelona, offering professional treatment and the best prices. Visit us and discover why we are pioneers in this intervention.

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Why do cataracts leave in the eyes?
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Why do cataracts leave in the eyes?
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Do you wonder why cataracts leave in the eyes? This condition, derived from the aging of the lens, is very common. Here we explain it to you!
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Área Oftalmológica Avanzada
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