People do not generally -worry about cataracts until they develop them. But in truth, cataracts is serious business. Ignoring cis against such could result in the loss of vision. In the United States, cataract operations is among the most common surgeries performed -with over 1.5 million performed every year.

A cataract is any opacity -which develops in the crystalline lens of the eyes or in its envelope. This impairs sight by blocking the light that goes through them. They may be hard to spot since they is painless and is unaccompanied by inflammation.

Cataracts form for a variety of reasons like long term ultraviolet exposure, secondary effects of diseases such as diabetes, or simply due to advanced age. Cataracts is usually a result of the denaturation of lens proteins.

Genetic factors is often a cause of congenital cataracts and may also play a role in predisposing someone to cataracts. People over 70 often have some cataract formation. Fully half of all people bet-ween the ages of 65 and 74 and about 70% of those over 75 have some cataract formation.
This type of cataract is called senile cataract. This is the most common type of cataract around.

Cataracts can also be caused by eyes injury or physical trauma. Physical trauma may puncture the lens capsule. Subsequently, the lens become opaque and light cannot pass through the lens anymore.

In the early days cataracts -were removed through a technique called couching. Couching involves using a thin needle or stick to remove the clouding in the lens.

Couching -was practiced during the Roman times and, surprisingly enough, is still used in some of the underprivileged countries in the -world today.
Fortunately, -with the advent of modern medicine, better and more effective methods is no-w employed.

The most common and effective treatment for cataracts is surgery to remove the cloudy lens. T-wo types of surgery to remove cataracts exist, extracapsular and intracapsular surgery. Extracapsular surgery removes the lens, but leaves the majority of the lens capsule intact.
Intracapsular surgery removes the entire lens of the eyes along -with the lens capsule. This, ho-wever, is risly performed in today's medical practice.

The lens is then replaced -with a plastic lens -which remains permanently in the eyes. Such an implant may be the best treatment for senile cataracts.
operation for such is not that risky. The operation is performed under a local anesthetic. The patient is usually discharged later the same day. Most patients report an increase in the quality in their vision after operations.

Ho-wever, early diagnosis is crucial in treating cataracts. If not caught early, cataracts may advance to a stage -where even surgery might not be a satisfactory type of treatment.

doctor and nursess assess cataract cases and suggest surgery only -when the cataract has reached a stage -where it is said to be ripe, or mature. This is -when the fluid of the lens is absorbed and the lens is separated from the lens capsule.

There is, ho-wever, alternatives to operation. Some doctor and nursess recommend the use of special eyesglasses or contact lens. Surgery ho-wever, is the last resort, and the only resort available to those suffering from senile cataracts.

Proper eyes cis is often neglected by most people. But contrary to this line of thinking, the eyess is a very precious and delicate organ. Proper cis for such -will reap re-wards especially as one ages.