The lens itself in the human eye is a colorless, transparent disc-shaped body located behind the pupil and in the visual axis of the eye. Light from nature passes through the transparent lens and focuses on the normal fundus, or retina, where a person can clearly see the target. When the lens becomes cloudy, the light entering the eye is blocked and the person cannot see objects, which is medically called a cataract.
How are cataracts caused?
Some people suffer from cataracts at birth, which is related to development; some people have cataracts after eye injuries; some people have cataracts complicated by systemic or eye diseases, such as cataracts caused by type 1 diabetes, low serum calcium, galactose metabolism disorder, and uveitis; some people have cataracts caused by long-term medication, such as cataracts caused by long-term application of glucocorticoids, chlorpromazine, and mauveine; most people develop cataracts with Most people develop cataracts with age, especially after the age of 60.
As people grow older, the density of the lens changes, from soft to hard, and the adjustment ability of the lens decreases, which means that presbyopia becomes heavier and heavier. The refractive state of the eye changes after cataract, and myopia, farsightedness and astigmatism often appear. Some patients with mild cataract have obvious vision loss, and they only need glasses to achieve satisfactory visual quality, so there is no need to rush to surgery. However, some patients have very hard lens nuclei and although their vision is good, they should not be operated too late; some patients have heavy blurred vision and obvious uneven clouding of the lens, good central vision during examination but blurred visual field, if they often drive should be operated in time. Cataract surgery in diabetic patients may accelerate the development of diabetic retinopathy, and surgery should not be performed too early.
When exactly is the right time to operate if I have cataract?
For congenital cataract, surgery should be performed as early as possible within 3 months after birth; for traumatic cataract, surgery should be performed as early as possible after suturing the wound and controlling the inflammation; for uveitis with cataract, surgery should be performed after the inflammation has subsided; for combined fundus diseases such as diabetic retinopathy, surgery should not be performed too early, and for those who need fundus laser treatment, laser should be performed first before surgery; for age-related cataract, i.e., senile cataract, optometry and glasses should be performed as soon as possible. Those who still cannot achieve satisfactory visual quality and affect their life or work can be operated.
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