Glaucoma vs Cataract: Symptoms, Treatment and Connection

As you become older and older each day, you become susceptible to multiple eye diseases. However, the two biggest eye problems you can face are Glaucoma and Cataract. These two are physical conditions that can impair your eyesight and gradually lead you to loss of sight.

Even though the result is the same, they differ in terms of the symptoms experienced, risk factors, treatment and causes. So, for better understanding, we have prepared a detailed guide on glaucoma vs cataracts. If interested, then read more!

When the pressure of the fluids inside your eye increases, it can lead to glaucoma.

Your eyes are filled with a liquid named Aqueous Humour. This liquid needs to be refreshed daily to maintain favourable health.

However, when new liquid gets filled, older fluid drains out of the eye through a meshwork drainage field and a tiny opening. This process makes sure a steady pressure is maintained inside the eyeball. But there can be a case when the pressure inside your eyes increases due to blockage in the drainage system.

Moreover, if you do not take any steps to release this fluid pressure, it can permanently damage the fibres in your Optic nerve. The two main types of Glaucoma cases are Open-Angle and Close-Angle.

Find details of the two types of glaucoma below:

1. Primary Open-Angle Glaucoma

It is one of the most common types of Glaucoma experienced by people. You can identify it by noticing symptoms of decreased visual acuity and peripheral vision loss.

2. Acute Angle-Closure Glaucoma

Acute Glaucoma or Narrow-Angle Glaucoma is another type. However, it is rare in nature. The symptoms include blurry vision, frequent headaches, severe eye pain, seeing colourful halos around light, nausea and vomiting.

Cataracts can be differentiated by cloudy formation appearing in front of your eye lens.

The clear lens in your eyes allows light to enter through it easily, thus enabling you to project images onto your Retina at the back of the eye. But when you get old, and proteins in your eye do not break down properly, it forms yellowish, whitish or brownish clumps like clouds and distorts your vision. These are cataracts.

It gradually leads to vision loss as the day passes. Your vision will become more cloudy and foggy, colour and contrast will become unclear, and it won't be easy to see at night.

Glaucoma and Cataract both mostly affect older people and result in impaired vision. However, the risk factor and the way they affect your eyes differ. Know about the detailed difference between Glaucoma and Cataract in the section below.

1. Symptoms

While in both cases, you are likely to experience vision blurriness and eye pain, there are differences in other types of symptoms like:

Glaucoma

• Redness
• Vomiting
• Nausea
• Sudden disturbance in vision
• Colored rings around lights

Cataract

• Clouded vision
• Double vision in the single eye
• Yellowish colour
• Compromised vision in dim light
• Cloudy formation on the eye's lens

2. Risk Factors

Certain people are more prone to develop these diseases. However, those in increased danger of suffering from a Cataract are very different from those with Glaucoma. Find the list of people below:

Glaucoma

Here are some of the cases which increase a person's chance of developing Glaucoma:

• People who have crossed the age of 60
• Those who have an immediate family member with Glaucoma
• Women and men of Alaska Native Heritage and Southeast Asian are more prone to a Closed Angle-Glaucoma
• People with Latino heritage and African American have a higher chance of developing Open-Angle Glaucoma

Cataract

While some people are born with this condition due to an infection in the uterus, others develop it after having an eye injury or surgery. Some more factors that increase the risks are:

• People who have crossed the age of 75
• Those having diseases like Diabetes, high blood pressure and obesity
• Men and women with a habit of smoking, drinking or taking steroids
• People with excessive sun exposure

3. Diagnosis and Treatment

The process through which doctors diagnose and treat the condition is also different. So, it is important to consider them when comparing Glaucoma and Cataract. Find the details below:

Glaucoma

Your doctors can diagnose glaucoma during routine eye check-ups. For this purpose, they may give you an eye drop to help dilate or open your pupil. Next, the doctor will check the pressure in your eye. There is nothing to worry about, as it is completely painless. Also, if the doctor finds it fit, they may check for Glaucoma indicators in your eye.

First, the doctor will try to treat glaucoma using eye drops. It can decrease the pressure in your eyes drastically. However, if that does not work effectively, your Ophthalmologist will suggest performing surgery to drain the extra eye fluid properly.

In certain cases, you may need surgery or microsurgery to create a small opening allowing fluid to drain. However, some doctors may insert a small tube or stent to make the fluid flow out. During the entire process, the doctor will keep you sedated to feel numb and calm.

Cataract

A simple dilation test is enough to diagnose Cataracts, i.e., during routine eye check-ups. The doctor will use eye drops to temporarily dilate or open your pupil. This makes it easier for doctors to check cloudy appearances in front of your eye's lens, indicating cataracts.

The treatment process will depend on the condition of your disease. For example, if the Cataract is small, a few changes in your prescription will bring back your clear vision. However, if it is an advanced stage of Cataract, the doctor may recommend you to go through surgery. It is seen to deliver good results.

It is possible to have both Glaucoma and Cataract at the same time. Also, in some cases, one may lead to the formation of the other. For instance, in a patient, Cataracts can grow so large that it blocks the natural drainage system of your eyes, thus building pressure and forming Glaucoma.

Here doctors treat the condition by removing Cataracts through reopening the blocked drain, surgery and reducing pressure on the optic nerve.

Similarly, Glaucoma surgery can also lead to the formation of Cataracts. In this case, it is not safe to carry a Cataract surgery too.

The above is an in-depth discussion comparing Glaucoma vs Cataracts. It will help you differentiate between the two diseases and follow the course of action accordingly.

However, one thing to keep in mind is both of these diseases require early detection and treatment. Otherwise, they can lead to vision loss. So, go through the details and get the required clarity.