Home > Medicine > Diseases and Conditions > Pathology

Research topic:cataract

cataract. (Image by Flickr user ListenMissy, CC)

Find more facts and information on our topic page about cataract

Create a link to this page

Copy and paste this link tag into your Web page or blog:

<a href="http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-cataract.html" title="Facts and informations about cataract">cataract</a>

Give this article a thumbs-up on StumbleUpon

cataract

From: The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition | Date: 2008 | Copyright information

cataract in medicine, opacity of the lens of the eye, which impairs vision. In the young, cataracts are generally congenital or hereditary; later they are usually the result of degenerative changes brought on by aging or systemic disease ( diabetes ). Cataracts brought on by aging are most common; most individuals over 60 exhibit some degree of lens opacity. Injury, extreme heat, ultraviolet light, X rays, nuclear radiation, inflammatory disease, and toxic substances also cause cataracts. There is growing concern that further disintegration of the ozone layer will increase the incidence of cataracts. Advanced cataracts are usually treated by surgical removal of the lens and implantation of an artificial lens. After cataract surgery, which is the most common surgical procedure in the United States, most patients do not require thick glasses or contact lenses.

Cite this article
Pick a style below, and copy the text for your bibliography.

MLA
Chicago
APA

"cataract." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. 4 Dec. 2008 <http://www.encyclopedia.com>.

"cataract." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Encyclopedia.com. (December 4, 2008). http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-cataract.html

"cataract." The Columbia Encyclopedia, Sixth Edition. 2008. Retrieved December 04, 2008 from Encyclopedia.com: http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1E1-cataract.html

Learn more about citation styles

Related newspaper, magazine, and trade journal articles from HighBeam Research

(Including press releases, facts, information, and biographies)

	Guidelines in place to help diagnose low back pain. Newspaper article from: Newsletter-People's Medical Society; 4/1/2003; 433 words ; ...self-limited, occasionally is a symptom of systemic disease such as cancer or spinal infection...age 50 with no signs or symptoms of systemic disease, treatment of their symptoms is all...whose clinical examination suggests systemic disease, plain x-rays and simple laboratory... Read more
	Escherichia coli Isolates' Serotypes, Genotypes, and Virulence Genes and Clinical Coliform Mastitis Severity Magazine article from: Journal of Dairy Science; 9/1/2006; ; 700+ words ; ...mastitis isolates, different levels of systemic disease severity, and farm from which the...with clinical mastitis of varying systemic disease severity from 6 different farms. No...serotype was identified by farm or by systemic disease severity; however, the most frequent... Read more
	Poor test selection leads to undiagnosable uveitis Magazine article from: Ophthalmology Times; 6/1/2006; ; 700+ words ; ...she is not likely to be treated for systemic disease, so the negative results may not matter...conditions that are associated with systemic disease, in which laboratory tests stand a...definite association between uveitis and systemic disease in 26% of cases and a presumed ... Read more
	(book reviews) Magazine article from: Physical Therapy; 1/1/1996; ; 499 words ; ...therapists screening clients for a systemic disease that mimics a musculoskeletal condition...conditions in view of a possible underlying systemic disease becomes a necessity for rehabilitation...systems review, signs and symptoms of systemic disease, and physician referral. The ... Read more
	Medical dermatology Magazine article from: Clinical Medicine; 4/1/2008; ; 700+ words ; ...disorders, sometimes being secondary to a systemic disease or its treatment, immunosuppression...of future dermatological services. Systemic disease - referral to the dermatologist Systemic...dedicated skin clinics for such patients.6 Systemic disease - referral from the ... Read more
	The spectrum of localized amyloidosis: A case series of 20 patients and review of the literature Magazine article from: Amyloid; 9/1/2006; ; 700+ words ; ...available (mean 7.6 years), none developed systemic disease. Localized amyloidosis occurs in a...evaluate the data on progression to systemic disease. Methods Patients with biopsy proven...birefringence on Congo red stain. Systemic disease was excluded in 17 of the patients... Read more
	LARYNGEAL AMYLOIDOSIS: LOCALIZED VERSUS SYSTEMIC DISEASE AND UPDATE ON DIAGNOSIS AND THERAPY Magazine article from: The Annals of Otology, Rhinology & Laryngology; 9/1/2004; ; 700+ words ; ...pathological characteristics, possibility of systemic disease, and effect of local therapy were...free light chains, helps to rule out systemic disease. KEYWORDS - amyloidosis, hoarseness...not associated with or followed by systemic disease.12 However, in rare cases, laryngeal... Read more
	Recognize, aggressively treat cutaneous evidence of lupus.(lupus erythematosus) Magazine article from: Family Practice News; 5/1/2006; ; 700+ words ; ...but also so we can identify signs of systemic disease when they occur, she said. Although...anindividual patient will develop systemic disease, Dr. Werth pointed out. Nearly all...followed more closely for evidence of systemic disease, she said. Once a diagnosis of cutaneous... Read more
	Living with Lupus.(LETTERS TO THE EDITOR)(Letter to the editor) Magazine article from: Ebony; 12/1/2007; ; 70 words ; ...thank you and the author, Shirley Henderson, for the article, Living With Lupus (July 2007). I have been battling this systemic disease for seven years now, and it has been a hard row to hoe. But I have learned to stay encouraged and remain positive without... Read more
	Progressive external ophthalmoplegia a diagnostic challenge Magazine article from: Ophthalmology Times; 6/15/2005; ; 700+ words ; Associated with systemic disease Ocular manifestations are often the initial patient...age; however, early onset is associated with systemic disease and the severity of systemic disease is highly correlated with younger age of the... Read more

For more facts and information, see all related premium articles

Related entries from encyclopedias, dictionaries, and thesauruses

	Phacoemulsification for Cataracts Encyclopedia entry from: Gale Encyclopedia of Surgery: A Guide for Patients and Caregivers Phacoemulsification for cataracts Definition Phacoemulsification cataract surgery is a procedure in which an ultrasonic device is used to break up and then remove a cloudy lens, or cataract, from the eye to improve vision. The insertion of... Read more
	Extracapsular Cataract Extraction Encyclopedia entry from: Gale Encyclopedia of Surgery: A Guide for Patients and Caregivers Extracapsular cataract extraction Definition Extracapsular cataract extraction (ECCE) is a category of eye surgery in which...IOL). This approach is contrasted with intracapsular cataract extraction (ICCE), an older procedure in which the... Read more
	Cryotherapy for Cataracts Encyclopedia entry from: Gale Encyclopedia of Surgery: A Guide for Patients and Caregivers Cryotherapy for cataracts Definition Cryosurgery, or cryotherapy, is a technique...cells. Cryotherapy can be used in the treatment of cataracts. Purpose The procedure is used to treat cataracts. A cataract is a form of clouding that develops... Read more
	Cataracts *Book article from: UXL Complete Health Resource* CATARACTS DEFINITION A cataract is a cloudiness in the lens of the eye, which is normally clear and transparent. The cloudiness caused by a cataract may eventually lead to decreased vision and blindness. DESCRIPTION... Read more
	Cataracts Encyclopedia entry from: Complete Human Diseases and Conditions Cataracts Cataracts develop when the lens of the eye becomes cloudy. They usually impair...Ophthalmology Vision Many people who live to an old age will develop cataracts, often without noticing the effects until they are past age 70. For... Read more