Apart from their name “cataract“, these two clinical pictures have nothing in common. In the case of cataracts, the clouding of the lens of the eye usually progresses slowly with increasing age until blindness occurs. Glaucoma, on the other hand, is the collective name for a number of similar eye diseases with damage to the optic nerve and visual field.
Diagnosis: glaucoma and cataract
Cataracts can be recognized by the increasing opacity in the pupil plane. The ophthalmologist determines the remaining visual acuity and checks whether the clouding affects the optical center of the lens. During the so-called slit lamp and subsequent ocular fundus examination, the cornea and especially the retina are also evaluated.
Glaucoma is usually detected during a glaucoma check-up (every two years from the age of 40). The ophthalmologist measures intraocular pressure, looks at the optic disc or fundus, and checks the visual field if necessary.
Detect eye diseases: These images will help!
Symptoms, signs, complaints
In cataracts, the perceived image gradually becomes blurry, dull, and slightly hazy. Colors fade and yellow, and double vision may occur in one eye. Other symptoms include:
- Increased sensitivity to glare, especially in bright sunlight, when driving at night, and on wet roads
- Frequent change in the strength of the glasses
Glaucoma, on the other hand, causes only slightly to moderately elevated intraocular pressure values mostly still no noticeable symptoms (exception: glaucoma attack). Only with high intraocular pressure may appear colored rings or halos around light sources. If left untreated, visual field loss progresses to blindness.
Causes and risk factors
Cataracts occur as a result of aging. Factors that may promote the occurrence of lens opacification include the following:
- Strong exposure to light
- Disturbed lens nutrition
- General diseases such as diabetes mellitus and neurodermatitis
- Years of cortisone intake
- Inflammation within the eye
- Eye injuries
- Glaucoma
- Eye surgery
In glaucoma, there are the following risk factors:
- Increased intraocular pressure
- The age of life
- Familial genetic burden
- Myopia from minus five diopters
- Strong farsightedness
- Low blood pressure
- Use of cortisone preparations
In some glaucoma patients, the optic nerve is already hypersensitive to completely normal intraocular pressure values (16 mmHg and 21 mmHg).
Cataract and glaucoma: therapy and course.
Currently, cataracts can only be treated surgically. In about 95 percent of those operated on, vision is restored completely, and in the remaining five percent, at least partially. During the approximately 20-minute operation, the patient’s own cloudy lens is replaced with an artificial lens (intraocular lens). Examples of intraocular lenses include monofocal lenses (allow sharp near or distance vision), multifocal lenses (relatively sharp vision at all distances, but somewhat reduced contrast vision), and specialty lenses. Weeks to months, sometimes years, after successful cataract surgery, an easily removable after-cataract may appear.
In the case of glaucoma, the intraocular pressure must be lowered (sometimes below normal values) to prevent further optic nerve damage: In most cases, pressure is lowered with eye drops that are used consistently throughout life to reduce aqueous humor production. Caution: Allergies and intolerances can occur. In approximately three to five percent of those affected, the outflow of aqueous humor must be facilitated surgically or with laser.
