Difference between Normal and Cataract Eye

Eye’s basic function is ‘vision’. They are made up of three coats: First coat consists of cornea and sclera, second being iris, lens and ciliary body and innermost layer is retina. They all function in co-ordination to form an image over retina and transfer it to brain.

Normal Eye

Normal human eye has got biconvex crystal clear lens which, with the help of cornea, converges light on retina. Lenses have three basic structures which are capsule, fiber and epithelium. The fibers have proteins which function to maintain its transparency until advanced age mostly over 40 years. Transparent lenses are important to form a clear image on retina. Anything which affects translucency of lens will affect normal working of eye which disturbs daily activities of humans

Cataract Eye

Cataract is the disease of eye caused by opacity of the lens causing progressive decline in power of vision. It is the prime cause of blindness worldwide. It’s a painless disease. Cataracts may be congenital or acquired.  Risk factors are diabetes, addiction and UV-rays. Ophthalmologists diagnose the cataract by retinal examination through slit-lamp. In advanced cases, clouding of lens is visible on naked eye examination.

Normal VS Cataract Eye

Naked eye examination:

Normal eye will have crystal clear lens without any clouding visible over the brown part of eye.

Cataract eye may have a portion of the lens or whole of it covered with opacity.

Microscopic examination:

Normal eye has 6/6 visual acuity, normal confrontation test and transparent lenses on slit-lamp.

Cataract eye has decreased vision depending upon portion of affected lens, decreased visual fields and opaque lens.

Function:

Normal eye can manage to cover average intensity of light over retina and we see clear image of the surrounding structure with minute details.

Cataract eye makes the image which is too intense or dazzling.

Treatment:

Normal eye should be focused to avoid getting cataract through these measures; Frequent eyes examination, avoid addiction, use of sunglasses and manage a balanced diet.

Cataract eye can initially be treated through suitable light adjustment, bifocal lenses and spectacles. But ultimate treatment is surgical removal of cataract lens.

Conclusion

Cataract is the painless disease which is getting common with passage of time. It can be prevented through simple eye care steps. Once an eye has got cataract, it at last, has to undergo surgical procedure to remove the opaque lens and get an artificial one. Surgery may result in infection, lens displacement and retinal detachment.