Cataracts
Cataracts are cloudy areas in the lens inside the eye that are normally clear. Cataracts is caused when part of the lens becomes opaque. Light doesn't pass easily through the lens and to the back of the eye to the retina where the picture is processed, making the vision blurry. However, cataracts is not painful. If it is left untreated, it can lead to blindness and higher mortality rates.
There are two types of cataracts: age related (the most common) and congenital cataracts (childhood cataracts). Age-related cataracts appear later in life, while congenital cataracts may be present at the time of birth or shortly after. It is caused by a molecular defect in the coding region of the gene responsible for a childhood cataract. Developmental, infantile, or juvenile cataracts are diagnosed in older babies and are another type of cataracts.
Cataracts develops slowly. Clouding of the lenses progresses until it gradually gets worse. Factors that may increase the risk of developing cataracts are age, family history, diabetes, long-term exposure to bright sunlight, previous eye inflammation or injury, and exposure to lead. Cataracts makes it hard to read and drive, especially during the night. A patient with cataracts sees something similar to cloudy water or a fogged up window.
Symptoms of age-related cataracts are blurry or cloudy vision, small spots or dots in vision, and vision that is worse in very bright light, People comment that colors are less clear and faded, and reading becomes difficult. Treatments for cataracts, other than surgery, are wearing glasses and sun glasses, using bright lamps, and trying not to drive at night. However, at some point, the cataracts progresses so that even glasses cannot help a person read, and the only treatment would be correctional surgery.
There are two types of cataracts: age related (the most common) and congenital cataracts (childhood cataracts). Age-related cataracts appear later in life, while congenital cataracts may be present at the time of birth or shortly after. It is caused by a molecular defect in the coding region of the gene responsible for a childhood cataract. Developmental, infantile, or juvenile cataracts are diagnosed in older babies and are another type of cataracts.
Cataracts develops slowly. Clouding of the lenses progresses until it gradually gets worse. Factors that may increase the risk of developing cataracts are age, family history, diabetes, long-term exposure to bright sunlight, previous eye inflammation or injury, and exposure to lead. Cataracts makes it hard to read and drive, especially during the night. A patient with cataracts sees something similar to cloudy water or a fogged up window.
Symptoms of age-related cataracts are blurry or cloudy vision, small spots or dots in vision, and vision that is worse in very bright light, People comment that colors are less clear and faded, and reading becomes difficult. Treatments for cataracts, other than surgery, are wearing glasses and sun glasses, using bright lamps, and trying not to drive at night. However, at some point, the cataracts progresses so that even glasses cannot help a person read, and the only treatment would be correctional surgery.
In the top two pictures , notice how the vision blurs from normal vision to cataracts. The reason for this is because of the clouded lens. Because the lens is clouded, the light is scattered across the retina, creating a blurry image. This is depicted by the bottom right picture, while the bottom left picture shows how a healthy eye works and focuses light on a spot in the retina.
Surgery is recommended to patients who have trouble looking after himself/herself or someone else, If someone has trouble driving, leaving the house, recognizing other people's faces, problems doing his/her job, or cannot watch television properly, then they might want to consider also getting surgery because surgery is the only effective treatment for severe cataracts.
What does the surgery do? In order to correct a patients vision, an eye surgeon makes a tiny cut in the cornea and inserts a tiny probe through the cut. The probe uses ultrasound and breaks up the cloudy lens into small pieces that are sucked out. Then an artificial lens (a monofocal, multifocal, or accommodating lens) is inserted through the cut and sits in the lens capsule, a little pocket to keep the lens in place. A monofocal lens is set for one level of vision, which is usually distance vision. Multifocal lens has two or more different strengths, near and distance vision. Accommodating lens, the most similar to a natural human lens, allows the eye to focus on near and distant objects. A patients vision is dependent on the type of lens they choose; however, no matter what lens a patient chooses, immediate vision will always occur after the procedure, although it may take a while for the eye to settle down completely.
Other than the above mentioned procedure, there are other procedures, manual extracapsular extraction and intracapsular extraction. Manual extracapsular extraction is similar to surgery; the lens is removed from a larger cut in the eye, but in one piece rather than being broken up by an ultrasound. Intracapsular extraction also removes the lens, and sews the artificial lens into the eye. This procedure is less common.
What does the surgery do? In order to correct a patients vision, an eye surgeon makes a tiny cut in the cornea and inserts a tiny probe through the cut. The probe uses ultrasound and breaks up the cloudy lens into small pieces that are sucked out. Then an artificial lens (a monofocal, multifocal, or accommodating lens) is inserted through the cut and sits in the lens capsule, a little pocket to keep the lens in place. A monofocal lens is set for one level of vision, which is usually distance vision. Multifocal lens has two or more different strengths, near and distance vision. Accommodating lens, the most similar to a natural human lens, allows the eye to focus on near and distant objects. A patients vision is dependent on the type of lens they choose; however, no matter what lens a patient chooses, immediate vision will always occur after the procedure, although it may take a while for the eye to settle down completely.
Other than the above mentioned procedure, there are other procedures, manual extracapsular extraction and intracapsular extraction. Manual extracapsular extraction is similar to surgery; the lens is removed from a larger cut in the eye, but in one piece rather than being broken up by an ultrasound. Intracapsular extraction also removes the lens, and sews the artificial lens into the eye. This procedure is less common.
Despite all this, how do you prevent cataracts? The best way to prevent cataracts is to have regular eye exams, especially as you get older. The faster you diagnosis cataracts, the better chance you have of preventing it from spreading. Other ways to prevent cataracts are to not smoke, eating enough nutrition (like fruits, vegetables, whole gains, unrefined carbohydrates, good fats, and proteins). Always wear sunglasses to block ultraviolet B rays, and sleep at least seven hours of good, quality sleep. Obesity greatly increases the risk of developing diabetes type 2, which is a risk factor for developing cataracts. Diabetes must be under control to prevent the risk of cataracts. A good way to reduce the risk of cataracts and macular degeneration is exercise.