Cataract Case Study

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According to Mayoclinic.org the definition of cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of your eye (July 2013). I would like to discuss with you the pathophysiology of this disorder, the causes of this issue as well as some of the effects it can have on you, and some treatment options for those you suffer from this internal eye disorder. A cataract affects the lens of the eye. The lens is generally clear in color, and it is elastic in nature. The lens is surrounded by a capsule like case and sits behind the iris inside the eye (“Cataracts” Linton 2012). When the lens of the eye becomes cloudy, blurred, or there seems to be a more dim vision which replaces the normal transparency, this is called a cataract (“Cataracts” Linton 2012). …show more content…

Cataracts can be caused from a traumatic event or simply because of degeneration related to becoming older in age. The lens of the eye may become cloudy or hard to see through at a slow rate of time or very quickly (“Cataracts” Linton 2012). Some reasons for the disorder are a contributing factor to the speed in which a cataract forms. Also, each individual is unique in that they all react to illness, trauma, or even congenital disorders differently. Some signs and symptoms of cataracts are clouded, blurred vision, increased difficulty seeing or driving at night, new or worsening sensitivity to light and or glare, seeing orbs of light or what some individuals call “halos” around lights, having to obtain and fill multiple eyeglass or contact lens prescriptions, when the whites of a persons …show more content…

Definitely, if you develop a sudden change in your vision, sometimes double vision or blurred vision (Mayoclinic.org 2013). There are different locations of cataracts therefore they have names based on their location. According to “Cataracts” Linton 2012, a central cataract is located in the center of the lens (nuclear cataract) and in this case the patients may still be able to use their peripheral vision just as they always have, they just tend to start to lose vision directly in the center of their eye. The second type of cataract, according to “Cataracts: Linton 2012 is the peripheral cataract (cortical cataract) where an individual can see straight ahead but cannot see out of either of their peripheries. There are cataracts that affect the back of the lens (posterior subcapsular cataract) in which the cloudy spot on the lens forms directly over the small area where the path of light shines on the retina. This type of cataract interferes with reading vision, distracts us and hurts our eyes when we are in bright sun light, and happens to case the “halos” that some people say they are seeing (Mayoclinic.org 2013; “Cataracts” Linton

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