Types of Cataracts

Cortical Cataracts

"Cortical" refers to white opacities, or cloudy areas, that develop in the lens cortex, which is the peripheral (outside) edge of the lens. Changes in the water content of the lens fibers create clefts, or fissures, that look like the spokes of a wheel pointing from the outside edge of the lens in toward the center. These fissures can cause the light that enters the eye to scatter, creating problems with blurred vision, glare, contrast, and depth perception. (See Vision Changes Related to Cataracts for more information.) People with diabetes are at risk for developing cortical cataracts.

posterior capsular opacification

PCO

Posterior Subcapsular cataracts

PSC

PCO

Posterior capsular opacification occurs when a cloudy layer of scar tissue forms behind your lens implant. This may cause you to have blurry or hazy vision, or to see a lot of glare from lights. It's fairly common after cataract surgery, occurring in about 20% of patients.

Nuclear Sclerotic Cataracts

This is the most common type of age-related cataract, caused primarily by the hardening and yellowing of the lens over time. "BLANK" refers to the gradual clouding of the central portion of the lens, called the nucleus; "sclerotic" refers to the hardening, or sclerosis, of the lens nucleus. As this type of cataract progresses, it changes the eye's ability to focus, and close-up vision (for reading or other types of close work) may temporarily improve. This symptom is referred to as "second sight," but the vision improvement it produces is not permanent. A nuclear sclerotic cataract progresses slowly and may require many years of gradual development before it begins to affect vision.

PSC

This type of cataract begins as a small opaque or cloudy area on the "posterior," or back surface of the lens. It is called "BLANK" because it forms beneath the lens capsule, which is a small "sac," or membrane, that encloses the lens and holds it in place.