Cataracts are natural aging of the eye. However, it happens that various diseases, lifestyles, or genetic predispositions favor the appearance.

In order to see, our eye has to pick up outside light in the purest way possible before it reaches the retina. In between, the light rays must pass through various layers, such as the cornea and crystalline. The latter is composed of a succession of layers like an onion bulb, devoid of nerves, to form a transparent membrane.

For a flawless eye, the lens will be perfectly transparent, or nearly so, and vision will therefore not be hampered. On the other hand, if the lens loses its transparency, and therefore gains in opacity, we then speak of cataracts. The vision becomes more trouble, with a constant feeling of having like poorly cleaned glasses, spots in the center and periphery of the vision, or a Sheer in front of the eye. The distinction between colors, their contrast, will also be less marked, while the eye will be more prone to dazzling. It is thus frequent to realize it on the nocturnal roads, by being dazzled by a halo when passing the headlights of other vehicles.

Cataracts are very common in the world, especially with age, with almostone in two people over 75 years of age.

Cataracts have different origins, divided into distinct categories.

Senile cataract

• The natural aging of the eye

It is the most common cause, because the most normal. With age, the various components of the human eye see their optical capacities reduced. Thus the lens can lose elasticity, which favors the appearance of presbyopia, or lose its transparency, it is the cataract.

Most often, cataracts appear after the age of 70 years, but its first signs appear as soon as 65 years.

Why such an inevitable nature in the aging of the lens? This is partly to blame for its design, in ” bulb onion With many successive layers. With age, their maintenance and natural renewal lose precision, and the alignment is less and less perfect.

Secondary cataract

These are the causes linked to maladies or to eye deformities.

• Diabetes

Diabetes is one of the predisposition cataract. If the disease is not controlled, the glucose (sugar) will build up in the blood and also in the lens. There it risks being transformed into sorbitol, a sugar of different constitution that can cause cataracts.

• Uveitis

Uveitis is a inflammation of the eye, more specifically at the level of the iris or the ciliary body. Depending on its severity, it may cause deformation of the lens. Anyone can have it but it is found in people with disorders rheumatologic.

• Postoperative eye deformity

Following various operations, such as for a glaucoma or a peeling off retina, the eye can be weakened at the level of the lens. However, if this gene follows an operation, it will be monitored by your eye doctor and should therefore be treated promptly.

• Smoking

The smoking are more likely to develop cataracts, with nearly 50% more prevalence than non-smokers. This risk seems to increase with consumption. The mechanism is still under study, but it appears to be the smoke cigarettes which damage the lens on contact.

• Medication

Medicines of the type ” corticosteroid Such as cortisone, taken against pain related to inflammation and allergies, have the side effect of affecting the lens and therefore causing cataracts.

• Ultraviolet and X radiation

Some rays are harmful to the eye, especially those with more energy such as UV and X. They are mainly found in the rays emitted by the eye. Soleil, which should therefore be avoided to look directly, but also in various artificial light sources.

In contrast to senile cataract, there are cases of cataracts in children. Most often these cases are found in people with genetic defects, such as trisomie 21, Or the galactosémie (linked to excess sugar in the blood just like diabetes). Rarer, there are also cases of cataracts in children if the mother contracted an illness during her pregnancy. pregnancy, such as genital herpes, toxoplasmosis, or rubella.

Our eye is far from invulnerable, and the blows received or punctures will inevitably leave traces. Thus, a punch in the eye (for example) can cause swelling of the latter, and lead to a temporary cataract. However, sequelae may persist, in which case it will be necessary to consult an ophthalmologist quickly.