Home  |  Newsletter  |  Contact  |  Sitemap About us Infrastructure About Cataract / Eye care News & Events Business Opportunities   About Cataract / Eye care What is a cataract? A cataract is a clouding of the lens in the eye that affects vision. Most cataracts are related to aging. Cataracts are very common in older people. As the cataract worsens, it becomes more and more difficult to see through it, and eventually the lens becomes opaque, blocking out all light to the retina. This is most common form of cataract blindness. A cataract can occur in either or both eyes. It cannot spread from one eye to the other. What is the lens? The lens is a clear part of the eye that helps to focus light, or an image, on the retina. The retina is the light-sensitive tissue at the back of the eye. In a normal eye, light passes through the transparent lens to the retina. Once it reaches the retina, light is changed into nerve signals that are sent to the brain. The lens must be clear for the retina to receive a sharp image. If the lens is cloudy by the cataract, the image you see will be blurred.   Are there other types of cataract? Yes. Although most cataracts are related to aging, there are other types of cataract also: • Secondary cataract. Cataracts can form after surgery for other eye problems, such as glaucoma. Cataracts also can develop in people who have other health problems, such as diabetes. Cataracts are sometimes linked to steroid use. • Traumatic cataract. Cataracts can develop after an eye injury, sometimes years later. • Congenital cataract. Some babies are born with cataracts or develop them in childhood, often in both eyes. These cataracts may be so small that they do not affect vision. If they do, the lenses may need to be removed. • Radiation cataract. Cataracts can develop after exposure to some types of radiation.       Who is at risk for cataract? The risk of cataract increases as you get older. Other risk factors for cataract include: • Certain diseases such as diabetes. • Personal behavior such smoking and use of alcohol. • The environment such as prolonged exposure to sunlight. What can I do to protect my vision? Wearing sunglasses and a hat with a brim to block ultraviolet sunlight may help to delay cataract. If you smoke, stop. Researchers also believe good nutrition can help reduce the risk of age-related cataract. They recommend eating green leafy vegetables, fruit, and other foods with antioxidants. If you are above 60 or older, you should have a comprehensive dilated eye exam at least once every two years. In addition to cataract, your eye care professional can check for signs of age-related macula degeneration, glaucoma, and other vision disorders. Early treatment for many eye diseases may save your sight. What are the symptoms of a cataract? The most common symptoms of a cataract are: • Cloudy or blurry vision. • Colors seem faded. • Poor night vision. • Double vision or multiple images in one eye. (This symptom may clear as the cataract gets larger.) • Frequent prescription changes in your eyeglasses or contact lenses. • These symptoms also can be a sign of other eye problems. If you have any of these symptoms, check with your eye care professional.     How is a cataract detected? Cataract is detected through a comprehensive eye exam that includes: • Visual acuity test. This eye chart test measures how well you see at various distances. • Dilated eye exam. Medicinal drops are placed in your eyes to widen, or dilate, the pupils. Your eye care professional uses a special magnifying lens to examine your retina and optic nerve for signs of damage and other eye problems. After the exam, your close-up vision may remain blurred for several hours. • Tonometry. An instrument measures the pressure inside the eye. Numbing drops may be applied to your eye for this test.     Your eye care professional also may do other tests to learn more about the structure and health of your eye. Treatment The treatment for cataract is surgery. The natural lens is extracted and replaced by an intraocular lens (IOL). IOLs are permanent optical implants for visual correction following cataract extraction. Insertion of an IOL is now the most commonly performed eye surgical procedure; cataracts are the most common eye diseases. the procedure can be done under local anesthesia with the patient awake throughout the operation which usually takes less than 30 minutes in the hands of an experienced ophthalmologist.     Our Products   •  PMMA Lens •  Square Edge PMMA Lens •  Foldable Lens •  Delivery System •  Capsular Tension Ring •  Visco Elastic Solution (Vials/PFs) •  Trypan Blue •  Carbachol •  Opthalmic Equipment •  Microsurgical Knives •  Surgical Instruments •  Sterilization Trays       Home  |  Top ® 2007, Omni Lens Pvt. Ltd.