Cataract Vs Glaucoma: 13 Must Know Differences and Facts

Cataract and glaucoma are diseases or conditions of an eye. Both of them are very common and prevailing globally. Here are some major differences and must know facts about cataract and glaucoma.

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Major differences between cataract and glaucoma are:

On the basis of	Cataract	Glaucoma
Definition	Cataract is the clouding of the lens of an eye. Looking through a clouded lens is like looking from a fogged window. Initially, this clouding may only affect small portion of the eyes. However, later as cataract grows, it will cloud more portion of the lens and affects the light passing through the lens.	Glaucoma is an eye disease/condition which causes damage to the optic nerve of an eye.
What it leads to	This condition leads to shadiness or obscuring of the lens, keeping light from separating back to the retina.	Glaucoma leads to loss of optic nerve tissue and vision misfortune.
Causes	Causes of cataracts: Although there may not be direct cause for cataract, the risk factors identified for cataract are: Ageing Injury to the eye Inherited genetic diseases Long-term use of steroid medicines Ultraviolet radiation Diabetes Hypertension Obesity Smoking Previous eye injury or inflammation Previous eye surgery Hormone replacement therapy Significant alcohol consumption High myopia Family history	Causes of glaucoma: a) Increased/High Intraocular pressure (IOP), which damages the optic nerve: The major cause of glaucoma is the inability of the eye to maintain an appropriate balance between the amount of internal (intraocular) fluid produced and the amount that drains away. When fluid is overproduced or the drainage system doesn’t work properly, the eye fluid can’t flow out at its normal rate and eye pressure increases. Although, increased intraocular pressure is primarily responsible for glaucoma, there can be multiple reasons for increase in intraocular pressure. They can be: Blunt or chemical injury to eye Severe eye infection Blocked blood vessels inside the eye Poor/reduced blood flow to the optic nerve Inflammatory conditions Dilating eye drops Medications, such as corticosteroids High or elevated blood pressure
Physiological reason behind cataract and glaucoma	Cataract is linked with the clumping together of protein of the lens. (Our lens is made up of protein and water. In normal condition, protein is arranged in such a way which keeps the lens clear and allows light to pass through it. However, under various conditions, protein may clump together and start to cloud the lens. This is cataract.)	Glaucoma is linked with the built-up intra ocular pressure. This pressure damages the optic nerve, the nerve which transmits images to our brain. When optic nerve is damaged, there is no communication between eyes and the brain.
Types	Types of Cataracts Nuclear cataract Cortical cataract Congenital cataract Posterior capsular cataracts	There are two basic kinds of glaucoma: Primary open-angle glaucoma Acute angle-closure glaucoma Additional types of glaucoma Secondary glaucoma Normal-tension or low-tension glaucoma Congenital glaucoma Pigmentary glaucoma Pseudoexfoliation glaucoma
Description of types	a) Nuclear cataracts, that forms in the middle and move outward. b) Cortical cataracts, which structure in streaks along the edges of the focal point and move internally. c) Congenital cataracts, which structure in utero or soon after birth. d) Posterior capsular cataracts, which structure at the base of the focal point’s case, and advancement quicker than different sorts do of cataracts. They may likewise frame as optional cataracts after beginning cataracts medical procedure.	a) Primary open-angle glaucoma: This sort of glaucoma may create because of issues with the eye’s waste framework, which ends up wasteful with age, prompting gradually expanded liquid development and hence expanded weight. Another hypothesis of the reasons for this sort includes poor bloodstream to the eye. b) Acute angle-closure glaucoma: The most well-known reason for this kind of glaucoma is an injury to the eye that causes the seepage point in the eye-shaped by the cornea and iris to end up blocked. It tends to be identified with maturing at times, prompting a perpetual type of the condition that all of a sudden turn into a health-related crisis; notwithstanding, it is all the more regularly intense or caused abruptly.
Symptoms	Most common symptoms of cataract are: Distressed or yellowing colors. Blurred vision. Needing updated prescription glasses or contact lenses more often. Glare. Headlights, lamps, or sunlight may appear too bright. Glare or halos around lights, particularly at night. Poor night vision. Double vision or multiple images in one eye. Needing brighter light for usual undertakings like reading Colors seem faded.	Symptoms of glaucoma may vary according to the type and stage of glaucoma. For open-angle glaucoma, symptoms are: Patchy blind spots in your side (peripheral) or central vision, frequently in both eyes Tunnel vision in the advanced stages For acute-closure glaucoma, symptoms are: Severe eye pain Nausea Vomiting Redness in your eye Sudden vision disturbances Seeing colored rings around lights Sudden blurred vision
Screening method	Most conventional method for screening cataract is regular testing of different parts of the eye and dilating pupil to check the lens.	One of the most common and conventional method for screening glaucoma is testing eye for high IOP (Intra Ocular Pressure).
Relationship between cataract and glaucoma	Cataracts do not cause glaucoma in essence, despite the fact that there are sure uncommon structures (outside the extent of this discourse) where the cataract is the causative factor of raised eye weight and harm to the optic nerve.	Glaucoma itself does not cause cataracts, despite the fact that there are sure circumstances wherein cataracts is exacerbated by medications for glaucoma.
Prevention measures	Prevention measures for cataract include: Regular eye examination Quitting smoking Manage health problems like diabetes etc. that can increase the risk of cataracts. Healthy diet with enough fruits and vegetables Eating foods with vitamin C, vitamin E and omega-3 fatty acids. Wearing sun glasses to block sun’s UV rays.	Prevention measures for glaucoma include: Regular dilated eye examinations Cautiousness while exercising Taking prescribed eyedrops regularly Wearing eye protection
Consequences	Whenever left untreated, cataracts can prompt visual impairment. Nevertheless, as referenced, the medical procedure can be performed.	Whenever untreated, glaucoma will cause visual impairment. Truth be told, this arrangement of conditions is the second driving reason for visual impairment in the United States.
Treatment	Cataract can be treated with the help of cataract surgery	Glaucoma can be treated through various surgeries like: Laser surgery, conventional surgery and drainage implants
Medical procedure	Cataracts medical procedure is an outpatient methodology, and you will get neighborhood anesthesia with eye drops. A miniscule entry point will be made in your cornea and after that another in the case containing the focal point of your eye. The focal point will be separated, either with the assistance of lasers or just with a test utilizing a sound wave, and after that, the focal point pieces will be evacuated. In some uncommon cases, frequently because of other ailments, the focal point might be expelled entire, yet this procedure has a more drawn out recuperation time because of more prominent effect on the eye.	Medical procedure for glaucoma is multifaceted however planned for lessening eye weight. These include: a) Laser medical procedure: The laser-helped methodology is called laser trabeculoplasty, which helps channel liquid with a high-vitality laser shaft went for the trabecular meshwork. This might be more transitory than different methods. b) Ordinary medical procedure: This is a trabeculectomy, separating microsurgery that makes a waste fold enabling liquid to permeate out into the remainder of the vascular framework. c) Drainage implants: This is for grown-ups with uncontrolled glaucoma, auxiliary glaucoma, or youngsters with glaucoma. A silicone cylinder embedded into the eye coordinates the emptying liquids from the eye, assuaging weight.