1.What is cataract?
Cataract is a clouding of the transparent lens in the eye, which affects the light entering the eye. Initially, the clouding is mild or small in scope and does not affect vision, but later it gradually worsens to the point of significantly affecting vision or even blindness.
2.Why do you get cataract?
Age is the most important factor. It can be said that when you are older, you have cataracts to a greater or lesser extent, only the degree of difference. In addition, excessive exposure to ultraviolet light, high myopia, and diabetes also have a relationship.
This picture shows the position of the lens (when the lens is clouded, it is a cataract)
3. Is there any way to prevent cataracts in the elderly?
So far, there is no effective drug to prevent cataracts. UV radiation can induce and aggravate cataracts. Sunshades and sunglasses can block UV rays from entering the eyes and play a role in preventing and delaying cataracts. Diabetic patients are prone to develop cataracts earlier and should have strict control of blood sugar.
4.Is cataract medication effective?
At present, there is no clear efficacy of cataract medication. So far, surgery is the only effective method of cataract treatment. Some media and irregular medical institutions often promote cataract treatment drugs, but in fact there is no scientific basis. As a result, some patients have spent money and delayed treatment.
5. Can the elderly tolerate surgery?
There is no problem. The largest we have done is on an elderly person over 100 years old. The ultrasound emulsification procedure can be performed after a few drops of anesthesia, and the whole procedure takes only ten minutes, which is neither painful nor scary. No special care is needed after the surgery, just the usual eye drops as required. Therefore, the most important thing is to overcome the psychological fear.
6. Is cataract surgery a minor surgery?
No, the most advanced surgery in the world is ultrasound emulsification combined with IOL implantation. This surgery requires high technical skills of doctors and high requirements of equipment. Skilled ultrasonic phacoemulsification is painless, fast, and the results are very good.
7.When is the surgery more appropriate?
Generally speaking, as long as the patient feels that the vision is not enough and the quality of life is affected, surgery can be considered.
8.What is the best season for surgery?
There is no seasonal requirement for cataract surgery. Patients may have many considerations, thinking that it is not good in hot weather or cold weather. In fact, it can be done all year round. Although it is hot in summer in the south, the eye will not sweat and there is no risk of aggravating infection.
9. Some people say that cataracts can only be done when they are mature, is this statement correct?
No, it is not correct. In the past, people used to say that it could only be done when it was mature, and that was decided by the way of surgery at that time. That kind of surgery is not effective and has been eliminated in developed countries as well as in big cities and developed areas of China. Now the conventional method is ultrasonic emulsification surgery, which is very effective. Patients should never wait until they can’t see before making surgery, the long wait is always painful and, moreover, mature and overripe cataract surgery will be difficult to do and the risk of surgery will increase.
10.Will I get cataract surgery again after it is done?
No, it will not. However, the capsule membrane of the lens may be cloudy, which is called posterior cataract. It is very easy to deal with, and the capsule membrane can be cut open with a laser. It costs about $300 and is not very painful. Nowadays, the ultrasound emulsification surgery is very advanced and delicate, so the incidence of posterior cataract is not high.
11.What is IOL?
Cataract surgery is to take out the cloudy material in the lens, leave the capsule and implant a clear IOL.
12.Is it dangerous to have cataract and leave it without surgery?
There will not be any major changes without treatment in the short term. During the development of cataract, it may cause inflammation of the eye or glaucoma, resulting in the result that it will not recover well even after surgery. If there is fundus disease present at the same time, treatment may also be delayed because the cataract affects the fundus examination and a clear diagnosis cannot be made.
When cataracts require surgery, physicians always recommend that patients have surgery because everyone has the right to see.
13. How much vision can be restored after cataract surgery?
It depends on whether there are other eye diseases, such as keratoconus, advanced glaucoma, and lesions of the fundus, all of which can affect the post-operative vision.