Etymology:
"Cataract" is derived from the Late Latin word "cataracta," meaning "waterfall." It was first used in the medical context in the 13th century to describe the clouding of the lens in the eye.
Meaning:
In the medical sense, cataract refers to an opacity or clouding of the normally transparent lens of the eye. This clouding can cause blurry vision, faded colors, and other visual disturbances.
Origin:
The term "cataract" is believed to have originated from the resemblance of the cloudy lens to a waterfall cascading down a cliff. This comparison was first made by ancient Greek physicians and has been used ever since to describe this condition.
Historical Use of the Term:
The earliest records of cataracts date back to ancient Egypt. The Ebers Papyrus, written around 1500 BCE, describes cataracts as "a film over the eye." In the 5th century BCE, Hippocrates, the "father of medicine," also described cataracts and suggested that they could be treated with surgery.
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