Cataract is one of the most common eye diseases. The word literally means a waterfall. It refers to an opacity in the lens of the eye which obscures the vision. Blindness ensues when no light rays can enter the eye through the capacity of the lens.
Symptoms
The first sign of cataract is blurred vision. The patient finds it difficult to see things in focus. As the cataract progresses, the patient may get double vision or spots or both. There is gradual increase in blindness. At first, vision in twilight may be better than in full daylight since light is admitted round the more widely-dilated pupil in the dark.
In the advance stage, objects and persons may appear merely blobs of light. In the final stage, there is a grayish-white discoloration in the pupil.
Causes
Cataract is often found in association with other defects of the eye. There are four factors which contribute to the loss of transparency of the lens. These are, stagnation of the fluid current in the lens resulting from bad blood condition; deterioration in the nutrition of the lens which diminishes the vitality and resistance of the delicate lens fibers; acid and salt deposits between the lens fibres which have an irritating effect on the lens tissues and exert an increasing pressure on its delicate fibres, gradually destroying them; and disintegration of the lens fibres, clouding the whole lens in the absence of appropriate measures.
As in case of most diseases, poisons in the blood stream due to dietetic errors and faulty style of living is the real cause of cataract. Thetoxic matter in the blood stream spreads throughout the body to find shelter in any available weak spot. It strikes the lens if that part has become weak through strain, excessive use of the eyes or local irritation.
The condition becomes worse with the passage of time and then a cataract starts developing. Other causes of cataract are stress and strain, excessive intake of alcoholic drinks, sugar, salt, smoking, certain physical ailments such as gastro-intestinal or gall-bladder disturbances, diabetes, vitamins deficiencies, especially of vitamin C, fatty acid intolerances, ageing, radiation and side-effects of drugs prescribed for other diseases.
Some specialists believe that the most important cause of many cataracts is poor nutrition. This may be true even in case of type of cataract commonly called senile or ageing cataract. The cause may be a lifetime of malnutrition. Dr. Morgan Raifod, opthalmologist who has studied cataracts for many years, considers faulty nutrition to be a basic factor in cataract. He has found by experience that prevention of cataract is initiated by improving nutrition.