{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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Difference between Glaucoma and Cataract: Understanding Eye Health
When it comes to eye health, two common conditions that people often hear about are glaucoma and cataracts (a condition that clouds the eye’s lens). Both can greatly affect vision, but they are quite different in terms of their development, symptoms, and treatment methods. In this post, we’ll dive into the distinct characteristics between glaucoma and cataract, helping you gain a clearer understanding of them.
What is Glaucoma? vs. What is Cataract?
Comparison
About Glaucoma
About Cataract
Definition
Glaucoma is an eye condition where high internal eye pressure damages the optic nerve, often resulting in loss of peripheral vision. This is the main glaucoma vs cataracts difference.
Cataract is the clouding of the lens in the eye, which results in blurred or hazy vision. This condition mainly alters the eye lens, unlike glaucoma, which impacts optic nerve health.
Vision Impact
In glaucoma, vision loss often begins at the edges of the visual field, and may advance to tunnel vision or blindness in serious cases.
For cataracts, vision clouding across all distances, making sharp vision difficult. This represents a clear difference between glaucoma and cataracts distinction.
Understanding the Causes and Risk Factors
Feature
Causes & Risk Factors of Glaucoma
Cataract Causes and Risks
What Causes These Conditions?
● Increased internal eye pressure due to drainage issues
● Aging
● Family history
● Diabetes, high blood pressure
● Advancing age
● Extended UV light exposure
● Eye injuries
● Diabetes and long-term smoking
● Long-term steroid usage
Risk Factors
● Advanced age
● Ethnic factors (higher risk in African, Asian, and Hispanic more info populations)
● Thinner corneas
● Chronic UV exposure
● Eye trauma history
Symptoms of Glaucoma vs. Symptoms of Cataract
Comparison
Symptoms of Glaucoma
Cataract Symptoms
Symptoms
● Gradual loss of peripheral read more vision
● Increasing blur in vision
● Eye pain
● Halos appearing near lights
● Difficulty with night vision due to glaucoma
Vision that appears foggy
● Growing sensitivity to bright lights
● Trouble seeing clearly at night
● Dulling of colors
● Light here halos common
Main Symptom Differences
The main difference between glaucoma and cataracts is that glaucoma affects vision at the edges, while cataracts result in overall blurry get more info vision.
Comparing Types of Glaucoma and Cataracts
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 - Forms in the center of the lens, often related to getting older, causing gradual yellowing of the lens.
Angle-Closure Glaucoma - Occurs suddenly when drainage angle between iris and cornea closes, requiring immediate treatment.
Treatment for Cataracts
Treatment for Glaucoma
Glaucoma is treated by lowering eye pressure through like prescription drops, laser options, or surgery. Glaucoma-related vision loss is permanent.
Cataract surgery involves replacing the clouded lens with an artificial one, restoring sight. Glaucoma and cataracts require distinct treatments.
For specialized care, meet with Dr. Ruchika Arora, a cataract expert in click here Thane.