Cataracts and aging
What is the difference between nuclear cataracts and cortical cataracts?
answer:
A cataract is a clouding or opacity of the lens in your eye, which is normally clear. It comes from the Latin word cataracta, meaning waterfall, because having a cataract has been likened to looking through a sheet of water. It is considered a common, if not normal, part of aging. As cataracts progress, they can cause blurred vision, sensitivity to glare, increased nearsightedness and distorted vision.The terms “nuclear” and “cortical” cataract refer to the position of the cataract on the lens. The nuclear cataract occurs in the center of the lens, while the cortical cataract starts as wedge-shaped spokes around the periphery of the lens. Higher risk groups for cataracts include people with diabetes, people who have taken corticosteroids over a prolonged period, heavy drinkers, those over-exposed to the sun and smokers.