Cataract (opacity)

Information

Darkening of crystalline lens, called by people opacity, is known in medicine under the name of cataract. Cataract could exist since birth - inborn cataract and could appear later too - acquired cataract. Inborn cataract is a consequence of abnormalities in development of crystalline lens. It appears rarely as hereditary damage. Most oftren the inborn cataract is a consequence of morbidity of mother, mostly in the first trimester of pregnancy from contagious and especially viral lesions. Children with inborn cataract have reduced vision when the lens are opalescent, partial or complete loss of vision when the lens are completely opalescent.  Such children should be operated early so that they could develop normally by intellect in future.  Acquired cataract appears in some common lesions /diabetes mellitus, eye shock, irradiation/. This lesion could result as complication of some eye lesions: inflammatory – iridocyclitis, uveitis, as well as in some cases of myopia. Most frequent cataract is the geriatric one. This form appears usually as at 60-years of age. The patients complain from reduced vision of one eye rarely both eyes simultaneously. Vision reduction is gradual, without pain. Cataract could be treated only by surgical intervention. After placing of cataract diagnosis, it is necessary the patients to examine their vision and eye tension every 3 - 4 months.