Cataract

The word’ cataract’ is derived from Greek and means waterfall. Shush rut, in ancient India, was the first surgeon in the world to operate on a cataract. References to this brilliant surgeon are made in mythological literature all over the world.

Cataract is opacification of the human lens. A quick glance at the anatomical figure of the eye shows a transparent human lens just behind the pupil. This transparent human lens is a delicate and sensitive component of the eye and can be compared to the lens of a photographic camera. Any external or internal disturbance to its normal function will disturb its metabolism. It will turn opaque; cataract is formed.

The Onset of Cataract

The most common sign is that a clear vision becomes cloudy and dull. Those who wear glasses notice that they do not see normally even after changing over to new glasses. Reading fine print and watching television and movies cause eye strain and headache. At times, an early cataract may go unnoticed and is detected only in a routine examination. At times the cataract can be in one eye only; not to be noticed unless both eyes are examined in a ~ye clinic. But almost all early cataracts are detected by a precise and close examination of the eye in an eye clinic. An ophthalmologist alone is qualified to diagnose a cataract.

Readers should also know that even though cataract is related to old age it is not unusual to find young people, children and newborns with cataract.