What are Cataracts?
A cataract is a progressive, painless clouding of the natural internal lens of the eye.
Cataracts block light, making it difficult to see clearly.
Over an extended period of time, cataracts can cause blindness.
Although most cases of cataract are related to the ageing process, occasionally children can be born with the condition, or a cataract may develop after eye injuries, inflammation, and some other eye diseases.
According to WHO, cataracts are the leading cause of blindness, accounting for 51% of total vision loss throughout the world, which represents nearly 20 Million people in 2010.
The number of blind people in the world and the proportion due to cataract is increasing due to population growth and increasing longevity. The result of these two factors means that the population aged over 60 years around 800 million in 2020. This increase in the elderly population will result in a greater number of people with visual loss and blindness from cataract who will need eye services.
In Indonesia, cataratcs also become the main cause of blindness. 77,7% of blindness caused by cataracts. While the prevalence of cataracts in 50 years aged and over population is 1.9%.
