Cortical Cataracts

There are three different types of cataracts, the eye condition that manifests itself in a painless clouding of the eye's natural lens. Cataracts are classified by the location of the clouding; they can be nuclear, subcapsular or cortical.

A nuclear cataract, which often occurs as a normal part of the aging process, forms in the center of the lens and is the most noticeable of the cataracts, with most patients aware of its formation. A subcapsular cataract begins at the back of the lens. It is often seen in people with diabetes, high farsightedness or retinitis pigmentosa.

Most often seen in diabetics, a cortical cataract begins as wedge-shaped spokes at the outside of the lens. The cortical cataract progresses as it spreads toward the center of the lens. All cataracts start out small and at first do little damage to vision. As they grow and spread, vision often becomes more impaired and cataract surgery becomes necessary.

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