Katarakt

Katarakt, or cataract in English, is a medical condition characterized by clouding of the eye's crystalline lens, resulting in gradual vision loss. The condition develops slowly and is most commonly related to aging, but can also follow eye injury, long-term corticosteroid use, diabetes, or genetic factors. Additional risk factors include smoking, ultraviolet exposure, obesity, and hypertension. In some cases cataracts are present at birth or develop in childhood (congenital or developmental cataracts).

Symptoms typically include blurred or dim vision, glare and halos around lights, decreased contrast sensitivity, yellowing of colors, and increased difficulty with night driving. Diagnosis is made by an ophthalmologist through a slit-lamp examination and assessment of visual acuity; dilated pupil examination can reveal the extent of lens clouding.

Treatment is indicated when vision impairment interferes with daily activities. The standard treatment is cataract extraction, usually with removal of the cloudy lens and replacement with an intraocular lens (IOL). The procedure is commonly performed on an outpatient basis and has a high success rate, with most patients obtaining substantial improvement in vision. Potential complications include infection, bleeding, retinal detachment, or postoperative posterior capsule opacification, which can be treated with laser therapy.

Prevention for age-related cataracts is not definitively established, but risk reduction strategies include controlling diabetes, avoiding tobacco, protecting eyes from ultraviolet light, maintaining a healthy diet, and regular eye examinations. Cataract surgery remains one of the most successful and cost-effective treatments in ophthalmology and is a leading cause of reversible visual impairment worldwide.