Cataract is a graying of the crystalline lens that occurs gradually with age. There are very different estimations but approximately half of the people above the age of 65 have cataracts. During the process, less and less light rays can pass through the lens of the eye, so without treatment it can lead to loss of vision. The process is irreversible, the only effective solution is cataract surgery. As the visual function deteriorates, at first it is necessary to change glasses often, then when the glasses do not help anymore, the vision becomes increasingly blurred, orientation and reading become difficult, colors fade, and bright lights can be disturbing. Pain, eye redness, itching are not characteristic of the disease, except for the so-called overmature cataract, which is the final stage of the disease, when the completely whitened eye lens begins to swell, the intraocular pressure becomes high and inflammatory eye symptoms are experienced with pain.

Cataracts can rarely be congenital changes, e.g. accompanying intrauterine infections, metabolic disorders, developmental disorders. In the case of adults, it may appear earlier in the case of family accumulation, diabetes, eye injury or surgery, strong radioactive radiation, smoking and certain long-term medications (e.g. steroids). You can read more about cataracts and their treatment here…