What Are the 3 Types of Cataracts?

A cataract is a dense clouding of the eye’s lens that leads to vision impairment. This clouding results from protein buildup. Left untreated, cataracts can lead to reduced vision or even loss of sight. Due to the clumping together of protein inside the eye, a cataract begins to form. The mass of protein stands in the way of clear images from the lens getting to the retina.

The job of the retina is to convert the light coming through the eye’s lens to signals. It then sends those signals to the optic nerve. This nerve then conveys them to the brain.
 

The typical symptoms of cataracts include:

• Double vision.

• Poor vision at night.

• Halos surrounding lights.

• Blurry vision.

• Colors appearing faded.

• Increasing sensitivity to glare.

• It may also lead to the need to change prescription lenses frequently.

Cataracts tend to develop quite slowly, which is why they are common among people of advanced age. Eventually, they interfere with vision. Both eyes can have cataracts, but it is rare for them to form at the same time. According to the National Eye Institute, more than half of Americans have had cataracts or underwent corrective surgery by age 80.

Types of Cataracts

Nuclear Sclerotic Cataracts

This type is very common, and it begins with a slow yellowing and hardening of the lens’s central zone. Eventually, this yellowing and hardening of the nucleus will expand to other layers of the lens. With time, this type will begin to affect your eye’s capability to focus.

However, your up-close vision may temporarily get better. You need this vision to perform various types of close work, such as reading and writing. This symptom or improvement, referred to as second sight, is temporary. The cataract will continue to progress gradually. It may even take several years for a nuclear sclerotic cataract to start to affect your vision.

Cortical Cataracts

This type of cataract forms in the cortex, which is the shell layer of the eye’s lens. Gradually, it expands its fingers from the lens toward the center. The gaps between the fingers or spokes can cause the light entering the eye to scatter. This leads to problems with perceiving depth and contrast, glare, and blurred vision. Cortical cataracts are quite common among diabetics.

Posterior Subcapsular Cataracts

This type of cataract mainly affects people’s night and reading vision. It starts as a tiny, opaque spot on the back part or next to the lens. The word subcapsular stems from the fact that this type of cataract forms beneath the capsule of the lens. This is the small membrane or sac enclosing the lens and holding it securely.

This type of cataract can create glare around lights, a halo effect, and interfere with your reading ability. You have a higher risk of developing subcapsular cataracts if you have retinitis pigmentosa and/or extreme nearsightedness. This type is common in people with diabetes and those who take steroids. It can develop quite rapidly. You may start to notice symptoms within months.

To learn more about cataracts, visit Quality Eye Care at our offices in Jacksonville or Gainesville, Florida. You can also call (904) 601-1300 to schedule an appointment today.