Cataract Research Paper

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Cataracts
Cataracts are any loss of transparency in the lens of the eye; it is the process in which the lens becomes cloudy or opaque due to trauma, hereditary, metabolic disorders and ageing. Cataracts are caused by the clumping of protein in the lens causing the lens to become opaque. This opaqueness of the lens prevents light from reaching the retina causing loss of vision and in some cases blindness. Cataracts can be categorised into 3 groups. These include:
• Nuclear: associated with aging
• Sub-capsular: People using high amounts of steroids or people who have diabetes are at higher risk of developing this type of cataract.
• Cortical: occurs in the lens cortex. Also age related.

Occurrence:
Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness …show more content…
There are many reasons for this including the type of cataract, the length of time the cataract has been present in the eye, the cause of the cataract (ageing, trauma, hereditary and metabolic disorders) and the severity of the cataract. Cataracts that are present at birth can stop the eye from learning to see and even when the cataract is removed the child may still be permanently blind. The progression of the cataract can also change the effect on vision. With a cataract that has been present for over a year, vision is usually very poor and in some cases blindness can occur, where as a cataract that has only been present for a few months may not interfere with the day to day lives of the person effected quite as much and sensitivity to lights and glare may be the only problem.
Cataract Correction:
Cataract correction (Cataract Microsurgery) includes the removal of the natural lens, replacing this with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). Approximately 90% of all Cataract surgeries are successful. This implantation of the lens is carried out through a surgery performed by an ophthalmologist.
Past and present methods of cataract …show more content…
This surgery usually takes just under an hour but can vary due to complexity and severity. Topical (numbs the eye itself) or local (numbs the tissues around the eye) anaesthetic is applied. Once the anaesthetic has taken affect, the surgeon will make a small incision approximately 5-6mm wide in the cornea where the sclera and cornea meet. Then a capsulorhexis (circular tear made in front of the lens capsule) is made and the surgeon carefully opens the lens capsule and removes the nucleus using an irrigating cannula. After the nucleus has been removed, the surgeon uses suction to remove the softer outer cortex of the lens. The surgeon the inserts the IOL by folding it through the incision and it then unfolds when in place of the pre-existing natural
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