Industrial illness - Cataract
Cataracts are cloudy patches or areas in the lens inside your eye. They can develop in one or both eyes. One eye can often be more affected than the other. Cataract is an opacity that develops in the crystalline lens of the eye or in its envelope
In one UK research study, around 30% of people aged 65 and over had cataracts in one or both eyes that impaired their vision. In older people its called age-related cataract.
Cause
Frequent or prolonged exposure to radiation from red-hot or white-hot material. For example, glass and metal workers, stokers.
Some other major causes are. Other reasons such as long-term ultraviolet exposure, exposure to radiation long-term ultraviolet exposure, exposure to radiation also case cataract.
Symptom
- Lights appear dim, or
- On a bright or sunny day or in bright artificial light
- The glare from bright lights may be dazzling or uncomfortable to look at,
- Colours may look faded or less clear, and
- Reading, watching TV and other daily activities may be more difficult than they used to be.
Diagnosis
There are usually three different types of test carried out to diagnose cataract.
- Visual acuity test: The eye doctor will measure the sharpness of your vision by having you read letters on a chart from a distance.
- Retinal exam: After dilating your eyes, the doctor will use a magnifying lens to carefully examine the inside of the eyes. The lenses will be studied for signs of cataracts.
- Tonometry test: Helps determine if there an increase in the eye pressure that could be caused by cataracts.
Additional procedures may be performed to diagnose cataracts including tests to measure glare and contrast sensitivity, night vision, colour vision and peripheral vision.
Prevention
Unfortunately there isn't a medically proven prevention method for cataract. However controlling certain factors that are related to cataract could well help.
- Stop smoking
- protecting your eyes from sunlight, by wearing sunglasses and a hat with a peak or wide brim.
- Maintain a good diet
Cataract related Compensation Law
Cataract is not prescribed unless a person was employed in employed earner's employment in an occupation such as fireman firing boilers at a colliery, jobs that involved frequent or prolonged exposure to rays from molten or red-hot metal.
Credit to Troy Bedinghaus