Glaucoma and Cataracts: What’s the Difference?

Posted by Dr. Matthew Clary on August 17th, 2022

Both glaucoma and cataracts are chronic diseases of the eye. These two conditions are common in diabetic patients. However, they affect the eyes differently, and you can suffer from both conditions at the same time.

What is Glaucoma?

Glaucoma is a condition or multiple conditions of the eye resulting from too much fluid pressure buildup in the eye. The aqueous humor fluid increases the intraocular pressure (eye pressure) whenever it's overproduced or when there's a blockage in the drainage tissue (trabecular meshwork). Too much intraocular pressure damages the optic nerve causing glaucoma.

Glaucoma causes eye pain, nausea or vomiting, severe headaches, and more.

What are Eye Cataracts?

Cataracts are formed when there’s a breakdown of proteins inside the eye. They are common as one gets older.

Cataracts form a cloud in the eye lens. The proteins often form brown, yellow, or whitish clumps (cataracts) that distort or block your vision. They cause blurry and night vision problems, seeing halos around lights, and more.

The Difference Between Glaucoma and Cataracts

• Glaucoma is caused by intraocular pressure that blocks the trabecular meshwork, damaging the optic nerve. On the other hand, cataracts are caused by a protein breakdown within the eye that blocks or distorts vision.
• While cataracts form over time without causing pain, glaucoma can be subtle and sometimes painful.
• Glaucoma can cause irreversible blindness, while cataracts can be corrected through surgery.
• Preventing and treating glaucoma early is vital. But even if the symptoms and preventive care are administered, your glaucoma will still worsen progressively as days go by. Cataracts don’t require early medical intervention and can be treated to reverse your condition.
• With cataract surgery, your eye lenses can be replaced with artificial ones. But in glaucoma surgery, a laser is used to unblock the canals that prevent fluid drainage.

About Author

The Eye Center is the leading refractive practice in South Carolina, providing full service eye care and specializing in Refractive Surgery – Lasik, AST, PRK, PRELEX, as well as Corneal Transplant and Cataract Surgery.