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Overview - The lens is a unique living ocular tissue that is usually clear or transparent and is referred to as
'the crystalline lens' in medical texts. The normal lens focuses light on the light-sensitive nervous tissue (retina) located in the back of the eye. The word
cataract literally means "to break down."
Doctors refer to any opacity (or cloudy change) of the lens that causes light to scatter as a cataract. Cataractous changes of the lens may appear as small
insignificant pigmented, gray or white "dots"., microscopic "blisters", a "cracked glass" appearance, a
diffuse haze, a "pearly" sheen, white streaks or a completely white lens. The cataract usually begins as small dots or microscopic blisters and progresses to
involve larger areas of the lens.
Cause - The cause of cataracts is an area continually being studied. Cataracts may result from injuries to the
eye, inflammation within the eye (uveitis), internal diseases that have an effect on the eye such as diabetes mellitus, metabolic conditions or certain
foods, chemicals and drugs.
Although it may be difficult to name the specific cause of a cataract, cataracts that develop in eyes free of signs of ocular
disease are assumed to be inherited. Inheritance is the major cause of cataracts in dogs and cats.
Treatment - There is no medical treatment known to slow the progression of, prevent the formation of or reverse
the changes of cataracts. Surgery to remove the cataractous lens is the only known treatment in animals and man. Successful surgery can provide a return of
vision.
Source: Our friends at Animal Eye Specialist
Resource:
Cataracts
Cataract Surgery for Pets
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