I once traveled to a particular location in Ezeagu in the eastern part of Nigeria. In this particular community I found a lot of elderly people who should be around 50 years and above.
The most shocking thing is that most of them in that community who are above that age are completely blind. To me I taught it was not something serious until I happen to observe that a good number of them are blind and they are always inside their respective houses.
Till today I still can't tell exactly where the problem might be coming from though I once asked myself if this could be as a result of the food they take regularly, as a good number of them poorly feeds.
Today, I will be discussing on an eye defect called cataract.
I have realized that this days people are developing this issue without knowing what exactly could lead to this and why is it so.
Let's begin
Cataract
A cataract is a dense, cloudy area that forms in the lens of the eye. A cataract begins when proteins in the eye form clumps that prevent the lens from sending clear images to the retina. The retina works by converting the light that comes through the lens into signals. It sends the signals to the optic nerve, which carries them to the brain
Cataract as we can see are caused by the denaturation of the protein found in the eyes. It actually develops gradually and exceed to a greater extent.
This condition can actually lead to a permanent blindness. It has been observed that
About 20 million people worldwide are blind due to cataracts. It is the cause of approximately 5% of blindness in the United States and nearly 60% of blindness in parts of Africa and South America
Since this cataract is capable of causing a lot of damages to the eyes, what exactly could be the cause of this condition.
Age
Age is is one of the most common causes of cataract. It has been observed that the more we grow older the more the protein found in the eyes denatures. This condition can actually be accelerated by some disease conditions like diabetes mellitus and hypertension.
Trauma is another factor that can result to someone coming down with cataract. It leads to someone having swelling, thickening and whitening of the lens fiber. This results to damage of the capsule situated in the lens that prevents light from reaching retina at the back of the eyes.
Radiation is another way which someone can get cataract. The Ionizing radiation damages the DNA in the lens therefore making the lens cloudy and prevents the passage of light from it.
Aside this listed causes of cataract, there are other things that are also capable of causing cataract these includes alcohol, smoking, skin disease and some medications.
types of cataract
Cataract are grouped into different types depending on how or what actually caused it.
Nuclear cataract: this is a kind of cataract formed as a result of occlusion of the middle lens. This results to the nucleus being yellow. But in cortical cataract it simply occurs at the edges of the nucleus.
Another type of cataract we have is congenital cataract. This is cataract that develops from birth.
possible risk factors of cataract
This are the things that increases someone chances of getting cataract. This includes obesity, smoking, high blood pressure, older age, diabetes, previous eye injury and a family history of cataract.
Treatment/prevention
Though there is no way recommended in the treatment of cataract but some doctors believe that going for eye medical check up, not smoking, reduction in alcohol usage and a healthy diet will help decrease the chances of getting cataract.
Cataract can be treated mainly through the help of surgery, though in some non severe ones sun glasses can be recommended.
Conclusion
Cataract like I said earlier is capable of causing blindness. The moment we realize this and start taking care of ourselves by avoiding some things that are capable of causing cataract the betterment of our eye.
Let us understand that our eye is very important in our lives.