Eye Cataracts
This page deals with the general information about eye cataracts and you should be able to find what you need to know most on it. If you need further information or explanation regarding certain subjects, you can always follow the links that present along the article. Clicking on the links will open up a new page so that you won’t be navigating away. In case, if the information provided is not enough, you can always browse our other articles which cover a lot more.
1. What is Eye Cataracts?
An eye cataracts is actually a thin layer of clouding that develops in the eye’s lens. Until today, doctors have not been able to determine the exact cause of eye cataracts. However, it seems that eye cataract will form or develop as we age and so it is quite related to aging process. Although aging plays an important role in the development of cataract, there are also other factors which are believed to contribute to cataracts and these include: exposure to ultraviolet light, smoking, consuming alcohol and eating habits. And it seems that most of these by-factors have something to do with our lifestyles.
2. Types of Eye Cataracts
Eye cataracts can be categorized into five different groups and these classifications are based on how they occur:
- Age Related Cataracts – the most common type of eye cataracts which occurs when protein clusters up in the lens and causes cloudiness.
- Secondary Cataract – this is actually not a natural cataract but rather a thickening process that happens on the back lens capsule. It normally happens after the initial eye cataract surgery. (Read Secondary Cataract for more info)
- Congenital Cataract – this type of cataract comes with birth due to diseases, inheritance or some other medical problems
- Radiation Cataract – it forms after being exposed to major radiation
- Traumatic Cataract – this happens due to sustaining an eye injury.
3. Symptoms and Defection of Eye Cataracts
The most obvious symptom of eye cataracts is your vision become blur and which it will get worsened over time. You might even feel that the sunlight or even indoor lighting might seem too bright for you or causing glare. All these are caused by the clouding layer that focuses most of the light your eye gets into a certain point and thus causing blur image.
At some time, you might even notice that the bright colors may appear dulled to you. This normally happens when the clouding layer becomes even thicker. Sometimes, cataracts also cause double vision and when this happens, most people might think that it is time for new eye glasses prescriptions.
In case if you have any of the symptoms listed above, it is highly recommended that you have your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist. The above symptoms might also be signs for other eye related issues such as detached retina and glaucoma. Having your eyes checked as soon as possible will enable you to find out the real problem and so the right medical attention can be given immediately.
4. Cataract Eye Surgery
Although there are claims that eye cataracts can be cured naturally, it has not yet been scientifically proven yet. Moreover, it is only suggested that you give it a try when your cataracts is still in its early stage where it does not interfere your daily life (Read this: Cure Eye Cataracts Naturally).
The only proven and effective treatment for cataracts currently is to undergo an eye surgery procedure and have them removed completely. Cataract surgery is one of the most performed surgical procedures in the States, so it’s quite common. The success rate for a cataract eye surgery is as high as 95% at average and that’s considered a very safe procedure compares to other types of surgical procedures.
Cataract surgery normally involves the replacement of the eye’s natural lens with an artificial lens, known as intraocular lens (IOL). The IOL functions just as your eye’s natural lens. As medical technology and research progress, newer and more advanced IOLs are introduced from time to time. Some of the more advanced technology intraocular lenses include Toric IOL and Multifocal IOL.
Since this kind of surgical procedure will not only restore the patient ability to see but also rectify their vision problem, instead of being known as normal cataract surgery, it is called refractive cataract surgery. Some of the quite common intraocular lens used in surgery includes Crystalens and ReSTOR. Many people who have undergone this kind of surgery have successfully restored their eyesight back to normal, close to 20/20 vision.
Since these are premium IOLs, you should expect to pay more for them, particular for toric lens; they are worth it since you wouldn’t need a glasses after the surgery.
There are two main types of eye cataracts surgery that are commonly used today:
- Phacoemulsification: This method is performed for non severe cases where a tiny incision is made on the surface of the eye with close proximity to the cornea. Then a small ultrasound probe device is used to dissipate the clouded lens. Once the lens is completely removed, an IOL will be used to replace the removed lens.
- Extracapsular Surgery: The doctor will use this method to handle more severe cases. This surgery demands a lengthier incision as the whole cataract lens will be taken out as a whole without being fragmented into the eye. Any leftover areas of the clouded lens will be sucked up. Compares to phacoemulsification procedure, this will take the patient a longer time to heal. For even more severe cases, ‘intracapsular surgery’ will be used instead.
5. Risks and Complication of Cataract Surgery
Although cataract eye surgery is the safest of all types of surgical procedures, that doesn’t meant that there are no risks and complications at all. Complications might happen during or after the surgery has been done and these include retinal detachment, mal-positioned, posterior capsule opacity, cystorid macula edema, choroidal hemorrhage and endophthalmitus. To avoid any unwanted things to happen during the surgery, your doctor should know about your health condition thoroughly. For example, bleeding might occur for patient that suffers from high blood pressure or glaucoma.
Those mentioned complications are quite common (though some are severe) and if by any chances it happens to you, do not panic and immediately inform your doctor.
6. How to Prevent or Lowering the Risk of Eye Cataracts
Although eye cataracts is related to aging but that doesn’t that you can’t do something to prevent or at least lowering the risk of getting one, especially if you are still young. Things that you can do are:
- Check your eye annually and stay informed of your eyes condition. Diabetic patients are more likely to develop cataract and so this is absolutely necessary for them.
- Wearing protective eye wear that can block ultraviolet sun light effectively. This is one o the contribution factor towards developing cataract.
- Change your bad habits. Stop smoking and drinking alcohol. If you can’t cut off from them completely, try to reduce the intake.
- Consume healthy diets. Eat more green and fruits that are high in Vitamin A,C and E. This can slow down the growth of cataracts (Read this healthy diets that could prevent and/or cure mild eye cataracts symptoms).
7. After Eye Cataracts Surgery
Depending on the case, a patient can actually go home on the same day after the surgery has been performed; normally after resting for few hours at the hospital. After that, you can resume your normal daily activities and job like before. Your doctor will setup a series of follow up appointment to check up on your healing process.
During the healing process, which normally takes few weeks time, the patient is advised not to strain their eyes too much on the computer screen or perform any tasks that require constant focus of the eyes. The patient should never rub the eye during this time as the pressure from the hand might hurt it.
Your doctor should have supplied you with some after surgery eye cataracts drops that you can use to alleviate the pressure that presents around the eye. Use them accordingly as instructed by your doctor.
Helpful Resources: Cataract Removal FAQs. This page contains some of the most frequently ask question regarding eye cataracts and you should be able to find what you need there.
