FACT: Do you know 10 interesting facts about cataracts/lens cataracts?

Cataracts are one of the most common causes of visual impairment worldwide. Many people in developing countries suffer from blindness or severe visual impairment.

There is no cure for this progressive retinal disease in the form of tablets or drops. Glasses or contact lenses cannot improve vision.

It can be addressed with a relatively simple surgical procedure.

Cataract = clouding of the lens.

The lens of the eye is normally clear. With cataracts, it gradually becomes opaque to light, opaque.

1. Risk factors leading to the disease

Some risk factors for the development of:

Aging and advanced age
more common in women
heredity and genetics
inappropriate lifestyle = smoking, alcohol, drugs, inappropriate diet and vitamin deficiency
refractive errors of the eye
inflammation or trauma to the eye
other diseases (rheumatism, diabetes, rubella, toxoplasmosis)
high blood pressure
long-term use of certain medications (corticosteroids, steroids)
insufficient protection from the sun

2. What symptoms are typical?

The most common symptoms are:

impaired vision and fogging, blurred vision, reduced colour saturation in twilight
smudges, spots, mosquitoes
reduced field of vision
increase in diopters
sensitivity to light
in severe stages, clouding of the lens visible externally, even loss of vision

Pain may not be present.

Left: An eye with a healthy lens. Right: an eye with a cloudy lens in cataract. — Left: eye with healthy lens / right: eye with cloudy lens in high stage of cataract. Source: Getty Images

3. Facts we should know

Some facts about cataracts:

It is one of the most common eye diseases and illnesses of the elderly.
It affects both eyes, but to varying degrees.
People over the age of 60 suffer from a mild form in at least one eye.
Over the age of 75, most people suffer from cataracts in at least one eye.
50% of people over 70 have cataracts.
Worldwide, it is the cause of 50% of cases of blindness.
Women are affected more often.
If left untreated, it can lead to severe visual impairment and even blindness.
The operation is simple and takes less than 40 minutes.
The operation is painless.
The examination and surgery are covered by health insurance.

Don't neglect the examination and regular preventive check-ups.

aao.org - What Are Cataracts?
hopkinsmedicine.org - Cataracts
nei.nih.gov - At a glance: Cataracts
yoursightmatters.com - What are Cataracts?

Vision and eyes,

Bc. Lukáš Tóth

Healthcare worker

The secondary medical school in Nitra gave me the basis for my career in the field of health and diseases. Thanks to it, I worked for 2 years in the traumatology clinic and outpatient clinic at the Nitra Hospital. Since 2006 I was employed in the emergency medical service, where I stayed until 2017. I completed my bachelor's degree at the University of Constantine the Philosopher in Nitra in the field of emergency health care. The bachelor's degree allowed me to continue my mission as a paramedic. In the meantime, I got a job at the emergency line 155. I have been working in pre-hospital health care until today. I had an interest in people, health and even diseases in my childhood, which gave me the prerequisite to pursue this topic in adulthood. Studying and acquiring new information in practice provided me with a great basis for writing professional texts, in the form of articles that can be understood by ordinary people. Thus, my interest in the Health Portal has a solid foundation in years of practice and personal interest. Similarly, I am also interested in healthy eating, nutrition and overall healthy lifestyle. I fill my free time with family and sports.

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