{Difference between Glaucoma and Cataract: Understanding Eye Health|Exploring the Difference between Glaucoma and Cataracts
{Difference between Glaucoma and Cataract: Understanding Eye Health|Exploring the Difference between Glaucoma and Cataracts
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Understanding Eye Health: The Distinct Differences between Glaucoma and Cataracts
When it comes to eye health, two common conditions that people often hear about are glaucoma (a condition affecting the optic nerve) and cataracts (a condition that clouds the eye’s lens). Both has a noticeable impact on vision, but they are quite different in terms of their development, symptoms, and treatment methods. In this article, we’ll explore the distinct characteristics between glaucoma and cataract, helping you gain a clearer understanding of them.
What is Glaucoma? vs. What is Cataract?
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What is Glaucoma?
About Cataract
Basic Understanding
Glaucoma is an eye condition where increased pressure within the eye damages the optic nerve, often resulting in loss of peripheral vision. This is the main glaucoma vs cataracts difference.
Cataract is the gradual clouding of the eye's natural lens, which causes visual cloudiness and blurriness. The difference between glaucoma and cataracts lies in how each affects the eye and vision.
Vision Impact
With glaucoma, vision loss typically affects peripheral vision initially, and may advance to tunnel vision or blindness in serious cases.
Cataracts lead to overall blurry vision, making sharp vision difficult. This represents a notable difference between glaucoma and cataracts distinction.
Understanding the Causes and Risk Factors
Comparison
What Causes Glaucoma?
Cataract Causes and read more Risks
Causes
● Increased internal eye pressure due to fluid imbalance
● Age-related factors
● Hereditary links
● Underlying conditions like diabetes
● Advancing age
● Excessive sunlight exposure
● Eye injuries
● Diabetes and smoking
● Long-term steroid usage
Risk Factors
● Advanced age
● Certain ethnicities, including African, Asian, and Hispanic
● Corneal thickness issues
● Chronic UV exposure
● Past eye injuries or surgeries
Recognizing Symptoms of Glaucoma and Cataracts
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Signs of Glaucoma
Symptoms of Cataract
Symptoms
● Loss of side vision over time
● Increasing blur in vision
● Eye pain
● Halos get more info appearing near lights
● Challenges with night vision
Blurry or cloudy vision
● Increased light sensitivity
● Difficulty seeing website in low light
● Faded colors
● Halos around lights
Symptom Distinctions
The primary symptom distinction between glaucoma and cataracts is that glaucoma impacts peripheral vision, while cataracts cause general vision cloudiness.
Types of Glaucoma vs. Types of Cataract
Types of Glaucoma
Types of Cataract
Open-Angle Glaucoma - The leading glaucoma type where fluid drains poorly over time, causing a rise in eye pressure.
Nuclear Cataract - click here Located at the lens center, often linked with aging, causing lens yellowing and hardening.
Angle-Closure Glaucoma - Occurs suddenly when drainage angle between iris and cornea closes, requiring emergency attention.
Treatment for Cataracts
Managing Glaucoma
Glaucoma is managed with medications to reduce pressure like eye drops, laser therapy, and in severe cases, surgery. Glaucoma vision damage is irreversible.
Cataract can be corrected read more by replacing the lens, restoring clear vision effectively. This is safe and effective, unlike glaucoma treatments which can’t reverse damage.
Dr. Ruchika Arora at Arora Eye Clinic, Thane, offers cataract expertise.