Cataracts and glaucoma are indeed common side effects of aging. Some persons over the age of 60 are likely to get both. However, there is no link between the two. A cataract is indeed a vision-impairing autoimmune disorder in which cloudiness or opacity in the lens prevents or alters light entry, impairing vision.
Glaucoma is a category of eye disorder that gradually robs people of their vision without warning or symptoms. Disruption to the spinal cord causes vision loss. Although cataracts and glaucoma were frequent diseases, they should indeed be addressed carefully and addressed as quickly as possible.
Glaucoma vs Cataracts
The main difference between Glaucoma and cataracts is that Glaucoma affects the optic nerve and is caused by an increase in eye pressure, but cataracts are caused by the degradation of starch and damage to the lenses. Glaucoma can also be slow or subtle or rapid and unpleasant, depending on what type of glaucoma or severity. Cataracts are painless and develop over time.
Glaucoma is indeed a set of diseases that affect the optic nerve and are usually caused by increased intraocular pressure. If remaining unattended, glaucoma can lead to complications. Glaucoma was nearly often brought on by increased stress with one or even both eyes. However, glaucoma can develop even though the tension within the eyeballs is adequate.
In Cataracts The much more frequent cause of vision impairment inside the globe is cataracts. And to the National Eye Institute, more than half of adults over the age of 80 in the United States have cataracts who’ve had them surgically removed in the past.
Comparison Table Between Glaucoma and Cataracts
| Parameters of Comparison | Glaucoma | Cataracts |
| Average age | Glaucoma is done between the age of 1 year to 40 years | Cataracts is done between the age of 40 to 80 years |
| Risk Factor | It has risk relating to Hispanic | It has risks relating to diabetes, smoking, and other |
| Affected people | The 3 million people are affected | The 24 million people are affected |
| Vision loss | The process of losing vision is a very slow | The process of losing vision is a very fast process |
| Treatment options | Eye drops and laser treatment | Surgery can be done |
What is Glaucoma?
Glaucoma is indeed a term that refers to a set of eye diseases that damage the optic nerve. When a liquid termed aqueous humor accumulates inside the eye, it produces a rise in intraocular pressure, which is the pressure within the eye (IOP). This happens whenever the fibrillar lipid membrane (the tissue through which this liquid drains) becomes clogged due to an excess of aqueous humor. Glaucoma is caused by high intraocular pressure (IOP), which damages the visual nerve. Weak points or spots in the periphery (side) or system shows, typically for both eyes, are common hypertension signs (in advanced stages).
Glaucoma will deteriorate with time, even with treatment for symptoms and preventative measures. “If left untreated, glaucoma will eventually cause blindness,” according to the Mayo Clinic. Also with therapy, around 15% of glaucoma patients lose vision in with at most one vision after 20 years.
If anything really obstructs this same water system, the concerns have grown inside the eyeball occurs, which is referred to as eye pressure. As eye pressure rises, the sciatic chiasm, which really is responsible for transporting visual signals to the brain, is damaged, resulting in visual impairment.
What are Cataracts?
Cataracts are really a hazy region in the lens of your eye that is quite prevalent, especially as you become older. The lens is responsible for allowing air to penetrate the eyeball and projecting images onto the retina at the rear. When proteins in your eye break down, they can clump together and produce the hazy region described above, which is usually white, yellow, or brown in appearance.
Most individuals having cataracts are unaware of them at first, but your vision will progressively become blurry, foggy, and/or less colorful, and you will have trouble completing ordinary tasks, such as reading. Cataracts can cause the following symptoms: Vision that is hazy or clouded and Eyesight is weak (night blindness)
Although cataracts more frequently develop spontaneously, they can sometimes develop as a result of an eye injury or following surgery for a different eye problem, such as glaucoma. The only option to treat cataracts is to remove them surgically, but the procedure is safe and effectively removes any vision problems caused by cataracts. Cataracts may cause visual loss if left untreated.
Main Differences Between Glaucoma and Cataracts
- Glaucoma may result in permanent vision loss, but cataracts are less likely to cause visual loss (albeit still possible).
2. In Glaucoma the cognitive impairment caused by cataract surgery can be restored, but in Cataracts, the cognitive impairment caused by cataract surgery cannot be restored
3. For the treatment of Glaucoma they utilize a laser that can clear up the clogged channels that really are impeding fluid outflow, whereas cataract surgery removes the lens and replaces it with an artificial lens
4. Glaucoma is very painful, depending on the type of glaucoma and severity. but Cataracts are painless and develop over time.
5. Glaucoma affects the optic nerve and is caused by an increase in eye pressure, while cataracts are caused by the digestion of carbohydrates and damage to the lens.
Conclusion
Individuals experiencing pre-existing glaucoma are much more prone to experience ocular pressure spikes following cataract surgery, and glaucoma patients are more sensitive to harm from either a temporary increase in eye pressure.
To summarise, surgical treatment of individuals with coexisting cataracts and glaucoma presents distinct problems. There are a variety of therapeutic choices available, and many factors influence the decision to proceed with a certain operation. A thorough discussion with the doctor is necessary to decide the best course of action for you.
Routine medical examinations are recommended to detect signs and symptoms of cataracts and glaucoma, particularly for people who are at a higher risk of acquiring either condition. The sooner cataracts and glaucoma are detected, the more probable these need to be organization success.
References
1.https://www.mdpi.com/1038438
2. https://www.uscupstate.edu/globalassets/academics/symposium-2014.pdf#page=40v