Cloudy skies are great but not cloudy vision. Yes, cloudiness of the clear lens of the eye is called cataract and it affects a person's eyesight.
The World Health Report claims that 20million people in the world are affected by age-related cataract. Around 3.8 million people in India are blind due to cataract. In fact, cataract accounts for 51% of the world's blindness.
About 10 million eye cataract surgery operations are being conducted each year in the world. Thanks to experienced eye doctors who are striving hard to eliminate this eye disease, the Cataract Surgical Rate (CSR) has doubled in the last 10 years.
The World Health Report claims that 20million people in the world are affected by age-related cataract. Around 3.8 million people in India are blind due to cataract. In fact, cataract accounts for 51% of the world's blindness.
About 10 million eye cataract surgery operations are being conducted each year in the world. Thanks to experienced eye doctors who are striving hard to eliminate this eye disease, the Cataract Surgical Rate (CSR) has doubled in the last 10 years.
Cataract - Causes
Cataract is the cloudiness of the eye lens which is caused by the building-up of protein in the eye.
The lens of our eye is made of protein and water. The protein is arranged so as to allow the light to pass through the lens. But with age, the protein bunches itself together to cloud the area of the lens, thus impairing the vision. If left unattended immediately, the cataract may spread and block out the entire vision. Ophthalmology specialists insist on immediate eye cataract surgery as the cataract may harden with time, making it difficult to be removed.
Cataracts can be classified into different types based on their causes
The lens of our eye is made of protein and water. The protein is arranged so as to allow the light to pass through the lens. But with age, the protein bunches itself together to cloud the area of the lens, thus impairing the vision. If left unattended immediately, the cataract may spread and block out the entire vision. Ophthalmology specialists insist on immediate eye cataract surgery as the cataract may harden with time, making it difficult to be removed.
Cataracts can be classified into different types based on their causes
- Age-related cataract - this type of cataract forms as you get older
- Congenital cataract - this cataract is present at birth due to infection, genetic reasons or poor foetal development
- Secondary cataract - this cataract is formed due to other medical conditions like diabetes
- Traumatic Cataract - this cataract is formed due to injury.
The cataract usually affects people aged over 40. The risk factors causing cataract are
- Advancing age
- UV radiation from sunlight or electronic diseases
- Diabetes
- Hypertension
- Obesity
- Smoking
- Alcoholism
- Earlier eye injury or inflammation
- Prior eye surgery
- Hormone replacement therapy
- Prolonged use of corticosteroids or diuretics
- Prolonged use of statin to reduce cholesterol
- Excessive myopia
- Family history
Types of cataract based on their location
- Subcapsular cataract - this occurs at the back of the lens. Patients with diabetes taking steroids are more prone to this type of cataract.
- Nuclear cataract - this occurs at the centre of the lends and is associated with aging.
- Cortical cataract - this occurs in the white cortex surrounding the central nucleus of the lens. It starts from the periphery and moves towards the centre like the spokes of a wheel, forming white wedges.
Cataract - Signs and symptoms
- Dim, blurred or cloudy vision
- Difficulty in night vision
- Sensitivity to light or glare
- Need for brighter light for reading
- Seeing a halo around the light
- Fading or yellowing of colours
- Double vision in a single eye
- Changing the spectacles or contacts frequently
- Nearsightedness in older people
Cataract treatment with eye cataract surgery
Once formed, a cataract can be cured only by immediate eye cataract surgery. there are many techniques for eye cataract surgery like
1. Phaco-emulsification
Here the affected eye lens is emulsified using a hand-held ultrasonic device and aspirated from the eye.
2. Manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS)
Here the entire eye lens is expressed out of the eye manually by creating a self-healing scleral wound.
Once formed, a cataract can be cured only by immediate eye cataract surgery. there are many techniques for eye cataract surgery like
1. Phaco-emulsification
Here the affected eye lens is emulsified using a hand-held ultrasonic device and aspirated from the eye.
2. Manual small incision cataract surgery (MSICS)
Here the entire eye lens is expressed out of the eye manually by creating a self-healing scleral wound.
3. Extra-capsular cataract extraction (ECCE)
Here the entire eye lens is removed leaving the posterior lens capsule intact for implanting the intra-ocular lens.
4. Intra-capsular cataract extraction
Here both the eye lens and its lens capsule are removed and an artificial plastic intraocular lens is sutured or placed in the anterior chamber.
5. Femtosecond laser extraction
Here a laser is used to make a precise incision using Optical Coherence Tomography, keeping the remaining eye capsule intact.
Here the entire eye lens is removed leaving the posterior lens capsule intact for implanting the intra-ocular lens.
4. Intra-capsular cataract extraction
Here both the eye lens and its lens capsule are removed and an artificial plastic intraocular lens is sutured or placed in the anterior chamber.
5. Femtosecond laser extraction
Here a laser is used to make a precise incision using Optical Coherence Tomography, keeping the remaining eye capsule intact.
Cure cataract immediately by heading to the best ophthalmology specialists today.
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