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1. What is Eye Cataract?
Eye cataract is actually a thin layer of clouding that develops in the eye’s lens and which, making the patient seeing clearly an impossible task. Doctors and medical researchers have not been able to determine the exact causes of cataract, however, it is believe that this eye condition has something to do with aging process. In other words, it is a natural process that can’t be avoided but yet doctors are still puzzled why it does not happen to all people.
Although aging plays an important role in the development of cataract, there are, however, other contributing factors which influencing the development of cataract. These include exposure to ultraviolet light, smoking, consuming alcohol and eating habits. As you can see 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. This normally happens after the initial eye cataract surgery. (You can 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 has become blurred and 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 into your eye that 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 condition normally happens when the clouding layer has becoming even thicker. Sometimes, cataracts can also cause double vision, which leads most people to believe that it is their time for a new eye glasses prescription.
In case if you have any of the symptoms listed above, it is highly recommended that you have your eyes checked by an ophthalmologist immediately. However, it is also to note there that most of the above symptoms might also be signs for other eye related issues such as detached retina and glaucoma. Again, this is best identified by your doctor so that the right medical attention can be given immediately to prevent further deterioration.
4. Cataract Eye Surgery
Although there are claims that eye cataracts can be cured naturally, it is however, has not been scientifically proven yet. Moreover, it is only suggested that you should give it a try when your cataracts is still in its early stage where it does not interfere your daily life (Read Cure Eye Cataracts Naturally for more info).
The only proven and effective treatment for cataracts currently is none other than undergoing an eye surgery procedure and have the catarcts removed completely. Cataract surgery is one of the most performed surgical procedures in the States, and you shouldn’t worry about that. The success rate for a cataract eye surgery is as high as 95% at average and that would be 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 lens functions just like a normal eye’s natural lens which restores the patient vision to normal, just like how it was prior the development of the cataract. For example, if the patient wears prescription glasses prior to the cataract, he would still need his glasses after the surgery.
However, 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 are Toric IOL and Multifocal IOL. Undergoing this surgical procedure will not only restore the patient ability to see but also rectify their vision problem, and so instead of being known as normal cataract surgery, this kind of procedure is often referred to as ‘refractive cataract surgery‘. Patients who have undergone this kind of surgery would normally have their eyesight back to normal, a close to 20/20 vision. However, please note that this kind of intraocular lens cost more than those of the normal ones.
There are two main types of eye cataracts surgery commonly practiced 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 clouded lens is completely removed, an IOL will be fixed 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 have to be taken out as a whole without being fragmented into the eye. Any leftover areas of the clouded lens will then be sucked up using a special surgical tool. 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 completed and these include retinal detachment, mal-positioned, posterior capsule opacity, cystorid macula edema, choroidal hemorrhage and endophthalmitus. To avoid any of the incidents happen during the surgery, your doctor would need to study your health condition thoroughly; you might have to undergo a health interview and submit your health report. For example, bleeding might occur for patient that suffers from high blood pressure and so it is essential for your doctor to be notified about this.
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 mean 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 periodic eye check is absolutely necessary for them.
- Wearing protective eye wear that can block ultraviolet sun light effectively. This is one of the major 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 (You can read healthy diets that could prevent and/or cure mild eye cataracts symptoms for more info).
7. After Eye Cataracts Surgery
Depending on the case, a patient can actually go home on the same day after the surgery is done. That would be normally after resting for few hours at the hospital. After that, you can resume your normal daily activities and job just as 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 a 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. Please note that rubbing the eyes is a big no, you might risk complications doing this. You can read eye care after after performing your eye cataract surgery for more info.
Normally, your doctor would supply you with some after surgery eye cataracts drops that you can use to alleviate the pressure 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.
