Cataract and Glaucoma - The Differences Explained

Jan. 19, 2011 - PRLog -- Eye cataracts and glaucoma are two totally different eye conditions. Cataracts are a cross-linking of proteins in the lens of the eye which leads to cloudiness and an opaqueness of the lens which blocks visual acuity. There are many different sub-types of glaucoma but they can all be considered a type of optic neuropathy which refers to damage to the optic nerve due to any cause. The main symptom of glaucoma is loss of vision, with colors appearing subtly washed out in the affected eye. Raised intraocular pressure is a significant risk factor for developing glaucoma (above 21 mmHg or 2.8 kPa). One person may develop nerve damage at a relatively low pressure, while another person may have high eye pressure for many years and yet never develop nerve damage. If left untreated, glaucoma will lead to permanent damage of the optic nerve which will result in loss of visual field, which can eventually progress to blindness.

Glaucoma has been nicknamed the "silent thief of sight" because the loss of vision often occurs gradually and progressively worsens over a long period of time and is therefore often only recognised when the disease is at a quite advanced stage. Worldwide, glaucoma is the second leading cause of blindness, cataracts being the first.

Both cataracts and glaucoma result in loss of eyesight, as well as the danger of such problems increasing with age. However, that is in which the commonalities between the two problems end, based on the Glaucoma Study Groundwork.

Importance - The Glaucoma Study Groundwork quotes that 4 million individuals in America possess glaucoma. Cataracts tend to be more much common compared to glaucoma with close to 20.5 million individuals in the states over the age of forty who suffer from cataracts, based on figures from the Facilities for Disease Control and Avoidance.

Variations between cataracts and glaucoma; Cataracts happen because the lens in the eye becomes cloudy, having an influence on eyesight, based on the National Eye Institute's findings. Glaucoma, on the other hand, is actually injury triggered towards the optic nerve by way of a group of conditions. Injury to the optic nerve progressively increases eye strain, at some point leading to eyesight loss.

Indicators - Faded shades, blurred eyesight and sensitivity to glares are typical indicators that somebody has cataracts. Glaucoma is generally asymptomatic in the early outset stages. Since the condition will get worse, side-line periphery vision becomes narrower. Management of glaucoma requires medications and surgical procedure which eliminate excessive fluid in the eyes, reducing the strain. NAC eye drops have proved to be very effective in reducing raised intraocular pressure associated with glaucoma and have even been shown to improve periphery vision which is normally very rare with cases of glaucoma. Ophthalmologists deal with cataracts through changing the eye's cloudy lens by having a new synthetic lens implanted into the eye. Again NAC eye drops have proved to be a very successful natural alternative to invasive surgery and go to work reversing the cross-linking in the proteins in the lens of the eye and restore it back to full clarity again.

Glaucoma can be roughly divided into two main categories, "open-angle" and "closed-angle" glaucoma. Closed-angle glaucoma can appear suddenly and can often be painful; visual loss can progress quickly but the discomfort often leads patients to seek professional medical attention before any permanent damage occurs. Open-angle, chronic glaucoma tends to progress at a much slower rate and the patient may not even notice that they have lost vision until the disease has progressed quite significantly.

Probably the most recurrent type which has the most impact on seniors is the Chronic Open-Angle Glaucoma. Researchers have indicated that this specific kind of Glaucoma can be an immediate result of aging. On the other hand, many people usually are not conscious that they have this problem since it takes place gradually over time. Most of the signs of Chronic Open-Angle Glaucoma consist of reoccurring eyesight difficulties and blurry or cloudy perspective.

Unfortunately, there are numerous cases where glaucoma goes undiscovered right up until permanent eyesight reduction has occurred. As soon as vision loss has happened, it is permanent. This is the reason it is so essential, particularly for seniors, to get standard eye examinations done at regular intervals to help diagnose eye conditions as early on as possible so that treatment can then be recommended and commenced as quickly as possible.

Despite the fact that glaucoma leads to a powerful strain to the eye, with open-angle glaucoma there is no real discomfort and so will frequently not be observed by the person affected. An ophthalmologist has got the specific tools and training required in order to identify this progressive disease. Exams can sometimes include assessment of the drainage cells and research into the visual abilities of each eye. Eye drops and/or pills are generally recommended for less sophisticated glaucoma. These types of eye drops and/or tablets will certainly control the aqueous humor simply by helping the drainage, or even by manipulating the production.

More advanced glaucoma laser surgical procedure enable the opening up of the actual drainage cells which experts claim will certainly reduce the eye strain. Regarding very severe instances, the drainage opening can be achieved through a surgical procedure.

Both cataracts and glaucoma are progressive eye diseases and should be diagnosed and treated as soon as possible either with NAC eye drops or conventional surgery.

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