Cataract. Cataract is a loss of transparency in the lens of the eye and is usually progressive from the rim inward toward the center. Most cases of cataract occur in the over-fifty group, and seem to be caused by systemic diseases such as diabetes and difficulties of the parathyroid gland, among others. They are also caused by difficulties within the eyeball itself such as chronic uveitis (inflammation of one of the eyeball linings), or to excessive heat and infra-red rays such as occurs in glass blowers. When cataract occurs without any disease within the eye or without, in the later years of life, the term senile cataract is applied to it.
Fig. 8. Cataract is a disease of the eye lens-growing from clear glass-like transparency to an opaque, milky appearance in which some light rays are prevented from entering the eye. Caused by diabetes, infection and other difficulties, it can be removed and sight restored if proper glasses are used.
Removing the lens from the eyeball is the only satisfactory therapy for cataracts. Drugs and other treatments have been found worthless in restoring vision or preventing blindness caused by cataract. The surgical treatment of cataract however, is very successful with well over ninety-five percent recovering good eyesight. Only a physician can diagnose a cataract and perform the necessary surgery.
Glaucoma. Glaucoma, the thief in the night, is a disease of increased pressure within the eyeball. It afflicts nearly two people of every hundred, over the age of forty years, and is responsible for one out of every eight cases of blindness.
Fig. 9. Glaucoma is caused by greatly increased pressure within the eyeball. Possibly very painful, it may lead to complete blindness unless adequate treatment is effected.
Although pain is not always a prominent factor in glaucoma, a dull aching in the eyes is usually present. Reasons to suspect glaucoma are: 1. Progressively poor vision in one or both eyes. 2. Blurring vision with rings visible around bright lights. 3 So-called “gun-barrel” vision in which the field of vision is narrowed to a small “target” with difficulty in seeing toward the sides. The eye doctor has drugs and other measures effective for the treatment of this disease of our senior years.