When we talk about eye health, two of the most common conditions people experience are cataracts and glaucoma. Both conditions can lead to vision loss if left untreated. However, cataracts and glaucoma have some common symptoms, but different causes and treatments. In today’s post, we will discuss cataracts vs glaucoma
Understanding the difference between cataracts and glaucoma is important to recognize early signs & symptoms for effective treatment.
Let’s take a closer look at each eye disorder (cataracts and glaucoma) by exploring how glaucoma is different from cataracts, its causes, symptoms, and treatment.
What is a Cataract?
Cataract is a common eye condition mostly encountered by elderly people in which the lens of the eye becomes cloudy. The cloudy lens leads to blurry or hazy vision. Once the cataract is developed, you will experience that you are looking through a foggy window.
Causes of Cataracts:
Most cataracts develop due to the natural ageing process. Due to ageing, proteins in the lens break down, which results in clouding of the lens. However, apart from ageing, there are several factors which can lead to cataracts:-
a. Genetics:- If your family has a history of cataracts, then you are at risk of developing it.
b. Eye Injury: Any eye injury or trauma can result in cataract formation.
c. Health Conditions:- Several health conditions, like diabetes, hypertension, etc., increase the risk.
d. Medications:- Usage of several medications for the long term, such as steroids, increases the risk of cataracts.
e. Exposure to UV Light: If you are exposed to sunlight without any protection, it can lead to cataract formation.
For more information about the causes, check TOP 10 Causes of Cataracts
Symptoms of Cataracts:
Cataracts take time to develop, and initially, you won’t be able to notice any symptoms. However, as the cataracts grow, you will experience below signs & symptoms:-
a. Blurred or Hazy Vision
b. Sensitivity to light and glare
c. Halos around light
d. Difficulty in driving, especially during the night
f. Faded or yellowed colors
g. Double vision
h. If you wear eyewear, you will notice frequent changes.
The type of symptoms mainly depends on the location of cataracts on your eye lens. You can do simple self-tests for cataracts before undergoing any medical examination as well.
Risk Factors for Cataracts
The most common cause of cataracts is ageing. As we grow, our natural lens becomes cloudy and leads to cataract formation. Due to intrauterine infection, some people are born with cataracts. It can also develop due to any head or eye injury. Other factors which increase the risk are:-
a. Obesity
b. Smoking
c. High blood Pressure
d. Diabetes
e. Long-term use of drugs (steroids)
f. Alcohol abuse
g. Exposure to sunlight for a long period
Diagnosis & Treatment for Cataracts:
To diagnose cataracts, your Ophthalmologist will do a simple dilation test. To dilate (widen) your pupil, your doctor will put eye drops into your eye and will examine your eye for the signs of cataracts.
Treating cataracts includes surgery. Cataract surgery is one of the most successful surgeries in the world. During surgery, your eye surgeon will remove the natural, cloudy lens and replace it with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) to restore clear vision.
Comparison of Cataracts and Glaucoma
| Feature | Cataracts | Glaucoma |
| Causes | Clouding of the natural lens, Injury or Trauma | Surgery to remove the natural cloudy lens and replace it with artificial IOLs |
| Symptoms | Cloudy vision, halos around light, sensitivity to light, | Sudden vision loss, eye pain, nausea and tunnel vision |
| Onset | This happens due to damage to the optical nerve because of high intraocular pressure | Develops silently with no early symptoms |
| Treatment | Vision loss it can lead to blindness if left untreated | Eye drops, Medication, laser therapy, or surgery to reduce intraocular pressure instantly |
| Effect on Vision | Cloudy or blurred vision, unable to see clearly. | Vision loss, it can lead to blindness if left untreated |
How to prevent Cataracts?
With a few lifestyle modifications, you can reduce the risk of developing cataracts. You can take below steps:-
a. Always wear sunglasses if you are exposed to the sunlight.
b. You should stop smoking if you are a smoker.
c. Eat food rich in antioxidants to keep eyes healthy.
d. Limit alcohol intake
e. Get regular eye health checkups & full body health checkups to check and treat other health conditions like obesity, diabetes.
Next, we will explore glaucoma,
What is glaucoma?
Glaucoma refers to a condition in which the optic nerve is damaged due to high intraocular pressure (IOP). The optic nerve damage can result in permanent vision loss because these nerves are responsible for transmitting the visual information from the eye to the brain.
In early stages, glaucoma has no symptoms and develops gradually, which is why it’s often referred to as “the silent thief of sight”.
Causes of Glaucoma
The main cause of glaucoma is an increase in intraocular pressure, which is caused when aqueous humor (fluid in the eye) does not drain properly. Increased intraocular pressure causes damage to the optic nerve. The exact cause of this issue can vary, but risk factors are:-
a. Age:- Old age people (more than 60) are at higher risk of getting affected with glaucoma.
b. Genetics: Genetics plays an important role in glaucoma. If you have a family history of glaucoma, then it increases the risk.
c. Ethnicity:- People from Asia, Africa, and America are at higher risk of getting affected by glaucoma.1
d. Medical Conditions:- People affected with other medical conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, and heart diseases have a higher risk of developing glaucoma.
e. Eye Injuries:- Any trauma to the eye or injury around the eye can lead to glaucoma.
Symptoms of Glaucoma
In the early stages, glaucoma symptoms are not noticeable, but as the condition progresses, it can cause below:-
a. Peripheral Vision Loss
b. Tunnel Vision
c. Blurred Vision
d. Eye Pain and redness in the eye.
e. Headache, nausea, and vomiting
Since glaucoma symptoms are not visible in the early stages, it is essential to get regular eye examinations for individuals who are at higher risk.
Glaucoma Treatment
The first line of treatment for glaucoma is medication. Your doctor will prescribe eyedrops to reduce the pressure in your eye. If the eye drops are not very helpful in reducing pressure inside the eye, then your Ophthalmologist will perform laser surgery to create an opening for proper drainage.
In general, glaucoma cannot be cured but can be managed effectively to prevent further damage to eye. The main goal during glaucoma treatment is to reduce the intraocular pressure and prevent optic nerve damage, else it can lead to the permanent vision loss.
Common treatments of glaucoma include:-
a. Eye drops:- During the early stage, your doctor may prescribe eye drops to reduce the intraocular pressure.
b. Oral Medications:- In a few cases, oral drugs are also used to control pressure inside the eye.
c. Laser treatment:- If eye drops and oral medications do not give an effective result, then laser therapy can be used to improve drainage and reduce pressure.
d. Surgery:- In severe glaucoma cases, a surgery needs to be performed to create a new drainage path for fluid.
Key Differences Between Cataracts and Glaucoma
Next, we will discuss some major key differences between cataracts and glaucoma.
a. Cause
- Cataracts:- Caused due to the clouding of the natural eye lens, mainly due to ageing or injury.
- Glaucoma:- Caused by damage to the optic nerve. The optic nerve is damaged due to high intraocular pressure inside the eye, often caused due to poor drainage of the eye fluid.
b. Symptoms
- Cataracts:- Symptoms are cloudy or blurry vision, sensitivity to light, difficulty in seeing at night, halos around light
- Glaucoma:- Symptoms include eye pain, peripheral vision loss, and tunnel vision.
c. Onset
- Cataracts:- Develop very slowly and are only noticeable when vision becomes blurry or hazy.
- Glaucoma:- Glaucoma is referred to as the silent thief of sight and develops silently with no noticeable symptoms in the early stages. Regular eye examinations are crucial to detect glaucoma and other eye diseases.
d. Treatment
- Cataracts:- Treatment of cataract includes a surgical procedure, in which the natural cloudy lens is replaced by an artificial IOL (intraocular lens).
- Glaucoma:- Treatment of glaucoma includes medications (oral drugs and eye drops), laser therapy, or surgery to reduce intraocular pressure and prevent further optic nerve damage.
e. Effect on Vision
- Cataracts:- Cause blurry vision, due to clouding of the lens, making it difficult to see clearly.
- Glaucoma:- Causes optic nerve damage and can lead to permanent vision loss if left untreated. It can lead to sudden vision loss, especially peripheral vision.
Conclusion
Both glaucoma and cataracts are very serious eye conditions and can have a severe impact on health if left untreated. Both glaucoma and cataracts affect the eye condition, but in different ways. Cataracts affect the lens of the eye, whereas glaucoma damages the optic nerves.
If you notice any changes in your vision, difficulty in seeing or increased pressure inside or around the eyes, consult your eye care professional asap. In addition to that, get your eyes checked regularly for early detection and treatment.
1. Can cataracts be reversed naturally?
No, Cataracts can’t be reversed naturally. To remove cataracts permanently, surgery is the only effective method. Protecting eyes from the UV lights and taking a healthy diet helps in preventing the formation of cataracts at the early stages.
2. How can I tell if I have glaucoma?
Glaucoma does not have early signs and symptoms. However, as glaucoma progresses, you will experience peripheral vision loss or tunnel vision. A detailed eye exam, which includes optic nerve examination and eye pressure measurement, helps in early diagnosis.
3. Is cataract surgery safe?
Yes, cataract surgery is one of the safest and most common surgeries performed by eye surgeons globally. The success rate of the surgery is very high, and most of the patients experience improved vision after the surgery.
4. What happens if glaucoma is left untreated?
Glaucoma, if left untreated, can result in permanent vision loss due to damage to the optic nerve. Early diagnosis and treatment are necessary to reduce the risk of vision loss.
5. Can glaucoma cause blindness in both eyes?
Yes, glaucoma can cause blindness in both eyes. If glaucoma is not treated, it causes severe damage to the optic nerve in each eye. Optic nerve damage can lead to total blindness.
6. What is the main difference between cataracts and glaucoma?
Glaucoma damages the optic nerve of the eye and requires immediate medical attention. Cataracts target the eye lens. Your natural eye lens becomes cloudy when you are affected by cataracts, which results in blurred or cloudy vision.
7. How long does cataract surgery take?
Cataract surgery can take up to 30 minutes per eye. Once the surgery is completed, you can go home on the same day because it is done in an outpatient department.
8. Is cataract hereditary?
Yes, cataracts can be hereditary. If you have a family history of cataracts, then you are at risk of developing cataracts.
9. Can cataracts cause blindness?
Cataracts themselves do not cause blindness directly, but if left untreated, they can severely impair vision, making it difficult to perform daily tasks.
10. What is the best treatment for glaucoma?
The best treatment for glaucoma is to lower the eye pressure to prevent optic nerve damage. Depending upon the severity of glaucoma, this can be achieved by eye drops, oral medication, laser treatment, or surgery.
Reference
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28577860/ ↩︎