Cataract Vs Glaucoma

cataract vs glaucoma

Cataract and glaucoma are two different eye conditions that can both lead to vision problems but in very different ways. A cataract is a clouding of the eye's lens, which sits behind the pupil and focuses light onto the back of the eye. When the lens becomes cloudy, vision becomes blurry, colors look faded, and bright lights can cause glare or halos. Cataracts most commonly develop slowly with age and are treated by removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with a clear artificial one. Glaucoma refers to a group of conditions that damage the optic nerve, the cable that carries visual information from the eye to the brain. This damage often relates to higher than normal pressure inside the eye, but it can occur even when pressure is normal. People with glaucoma usually lose side (peripheral) vision first and may not notice anything until the disease is advanced. Treatment for glaucoma focuses on lowering eye pressure to slow or stop nerve damage using eye drops, laser procedures, or surgery. Knowing the difference matters because cataracts are usually reversible with straightforward surgery, while glaucoma can cause permanent vision loss if not detected and managed early, so regular eye exams are important for both conditions.