A cataract is called mature when the lens is totally opacified and the pupil appears milky white in colour. The cataract spreads to the edges of the lens in this stage and has a considerable effect on vision. At this stage of the cataract, your quality of life is affected and you may not be able to perform daily activities smoothly. Cataract removal surgery must be considered immediately.
An immature cataract is one in which the eye lens has become cloudy, slightly opaque, in the centre. At this stage, your ophthalmologist may recommend new glasses and anti-glare lenses. Progression of an immature cataract takes up to several years, but you will experience slight discomfort while reading and may ask for increased light.
For the vast majority of patients, cataract surgery is not urgent and can be safely delayed until the patient wishes to undergo the same. Even though it doesn’t cause harm to the eye, the vision gradually reduces until the cataract is removed surgically.
Dr Ashish Bajaj – M.B.B.S, M.D. in Clinical Pharmacology and Toxicology
| Different Factors | Mature Cataract | Immature Cataract |
| Causes | Increased age Excessive alcohol consumption Family history of cataracts Untreated cataract in the early stages | Ageing Injury Inherited genetic disorders Past eye surgery or medical conditions such as diabetes, high blood pressure. Long-term use of steroid medications. Smoking Excessive exposure to sunlight Radiation treatment in the upper body |
| Symptoms | Impaired vision Visible white spot in the eye No iris shadow No red reflex | Partially impaired A slowly progressing white spotIris shadow Plane mirror examination – Black opacity against red background |
| Diagnosis | Eye examination includes: Purkinje images testing: These are reflections from light, particularly infrared (IR) light, of the eye. All four Purkinje images are absent in this condition. Visual acuity test. Slit-lamp examination Retinal exam to open your pupils wide (dilate) and examine the back of your eyes (retina). Applanation tonometry test to measure fluid pressure in your eye. | All four Purkinje images are present in this condition. |
| Treatment options that can be advised by doctors | Extracapsular cataract surgery is meant for an advanced cataract that might be too dense to break easily. A larger opening is made in the eye to remove the lens in one piece and then the surgeon inserts the new artificial lens. | Change in eyeglasses or lens Phacoemulsification cataract surgery the most common procedure in which the ophthalmologist makes a small opening in the eye to use (ultrasound) or a laser and breaks the lens. The fragments of the lens are removed and a new plastic lens is placed. |
| Prevalence | Age-related cataracts typically progress and matures after age 55, | Younger patients, including some infants at birth, may have cataracts. People aged 40-50 develop immature cataracts in one or both eyes. |
| Complications | Affects your daily life and interferes with normal activities like driving a car or watching television. Chances of complete vision loss | Worsening vision Leads to mature cataract |
A Mature cataract is a cataract that is opaque, totally obscuring the red reflex. It is either white or brunescent. While an Immature cataract is a cataract characterized by a variable amount of opacification present in certain areas of the lens. Both require surgery.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka – MBBS, MD(Pediatrics)
The difference between mature and immature cataracts is not very easy to define; it is possible for you to confuse the two conditions as their symptoms are very similar. It is important to consult an ophthalmologist to get your condition diagnosed properly. If you suffer from an immature cataract, it is best to discuss surgery so that the condition doesn’t progress and leads to a mature cataract over time. Never self-medicate if you have any of these two conditions, as it may cause other health complications or worsen your condition.
Disclaimer: The information included on this site is for educational purposes only and is not intended to be a substitute for medical treatment by a healthcare professional. Because of unique individual needs, the reader should consult their physician to determine the appropriateness of the information for the reader’s situation.
Ever wonder what is a cataract? A cataract is the leading cause of blindness in the world. When a clouded, denseness appears in the lens of the eye, it is known as a cataract. The dense clouds are due to the clumping of proteins. The cloudiness prevents the lens from sending signals to the brain. The onset of the disease is gradual and can eventually lead to a complete loss of vision.One or both eyes may get affected. If the cataract is present in both eyes, chances are it would have developed at different times.SYMPTOMSThe symptoms of cataracts are pronounced.
The clouding of the eye lens is known as a cataract, and this condition leads to blurred or impaired vision. The cataract is slow to develop and will affect both eyes in most cases. The only way to get rid of the cataract is to go for cataract surgery. In India, it is said that three out of four Indians aged 60+ suffer from this eye condition.
According to the World Health Organization, Cataract surgery is the surgical removal of the clouding of the lens in the eyes which impedes the passage of light. Most cataract cases are old-age related, however, at times, some children are also born with this eye condition. In some cases, people may develop a cataract after an eye injury, some eye disease or inflammation.
Unlike earlier days, cataract surgery is a common phenomenon and not dangerous.
Children can also suffer from cataract, pediatric cataract is an important cause of treatable childhood blindness, provided it is recognised and managed early.
Dr. Ashish Bajaj – M.B.B.S, M.D.
What exactly is cataract surgery? Let us see!
When the light rays pass through the eye lens, it forms an image on the retina, and the impulses are then carried to the brain where the signals are processed. Over the years, the lens of the eyes may start clouding, and this poses as an obstruction that prevents the rays of light from entering the eyes. This causes the vision to become blurred, dimmed and even blotted.
cataract surgery nearly painless with a quick recovery process, but it also has a very high success rate — 97-98% according to recent studies. This is because it is a common surgery that involves very few (if any) possible complications.
Dr. M.G. Kartheeka, MBBS, MD
What is the process of cataract surgery?
Unbeknownst to many, the cataract surgery is one of the easiest, efficient and the safest eye surgery possible. In the cataract surgery, the process involves the breaking of the original lens, removing it and replacing it with an artificial one.
There are three methods to solve the cataract problem:
Don’t be daunted with the medical jargon as simply put they explain the different ways of breaking down the lens in the eyes. This can be done via ultrasound method or by using laser beams. The Phaco technique is by far the most used technique in cataract surgery. However, it is now being replaced by the laser beams technique as it has more accuracy.
To understand the process of cataract surgery in detail, consult your doctor today.
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