I. What is cataract?
The human eye is very similar to the principle of the camera we usually use. The reason why a camera can image external things and images on film is through the lens. There is an object inside the human eye that is shaped like a convex lens magnifying glass, which we call the lens. This lens is the lens of our human eye. As we age, or as a result of trauma, poisoning, radiation, or localized lesions, the lens becomes cloudy and gradually loses its transparency, blocking the light from the outside world and making our vision slowly blurred. This clouded lens is known as a cataract. A cloudy cataract is like a broken lens that needs to be replaced in time to allow the eye to see clearly again.
As mentioned above, there are many causes of cataracts, such as aging, heredity, metabolic abnormalities, trauma, radiation, poisoning, local nutritional disorders and so on. However, aging, that is, cataracts caused by aging, is the most common, accounting for more than 95% of all cataracts. Therefore, what we are talking about here is mainly senile cataracts, also called age-related cataracts. It is no exaggeration to say that as long as the elderly people aged 60 to 65 or above, one hundred percent of them suffer from cataracts. Even in our usual clinical work, we find that some patients in their 50s already have obvious cataracts. However, due to individual differences, the degree of cataract will be different for each elderly person, and the timing and method of treatment will be different.
Second, what are the symptoms of cataract?
From a professional point of view, cataracts have the following symptoms: 1) visual impairment; 2) decreased contrast sensitivity; 3) myopia, astigmatism, diplopia, photophobia and glare; 4) color vision changes; and 5) visual field defects of varying degrees.
In short, if you find that you gradually have blurred vision or blurred vision in sunlight, darker or yellowish color, or even double vision, double vision, and distortion, or a feeling of dark shadows in front of your eyes, plus you have entered or will enter the ranks of the elderly, then unfortunately, it means that you probably have cataracts. At this point, we recommend that you go to a major hospital to see an ophthalmologist to confirm the diagnosis.
In addition, there is another special case, that is, during the development of cataract, symptoms such as eye swelling, headache, nausea and vomiting may be misdiagnosed by some physicians as cerebrovascular accident or acute gastroenteritis, but in fact, this may be acute closed angle glaucoma caused by lens expansion.
3. What should I do if I have cataract?
It takes a long time for cataracts to develop from the initial stage to the mature stage, and during this long process. It brings great difficulties to the life of cataract patients. For example, poor eyesight, difficulty in distinguishing whether the ground is flat or ditching, and serious cataract patients can’t see with their hands, so they need a person to take care of them, which puts a lot of pressure on the family economy. Therefore, if they can be treated as early as possible, they can enjoy a high quality of life as soon as possible.
There is absolutely nothing to be afraid of when you have a cataract, as long as you follow the instructions of your ophthalmologist! Your doctor will tell you to have regular checkups with your ophthalmologist every three months to keep an eye on the progress of cataracts. For early stage cataracts with corrected visual acuity greater than 0.4, your doctor will often recommend medication. The main medications used to treat cataracts are Cataract Stop Eye Drops, Cataractin Eye Drops, Carlin U Eye Drops, and Vision Dew Eye Drops. Since the mechanism of cataract formation is still unclear, no breakthrough has been made in drug treatment so far. So far, there is no drug that can cure cataract, or completely stop or slow down the development of cataract, that is to say, the only effective treatment for cataract is surgery, that is, to remove the cloudy lens cataract.
When is the best time to do cataract surgery?
Many cataract patients may have gone to primary care hospitals for checkups and have been instructed by physicians to “wait until you can’t see before having surgery”. In fact, this is not true. With the development of technology and the application of new techniques, cataract surgery is undergoing radical changes. In addition, the maturation process of cataract is a long and dangerous process, during which the cataract absorbs water and expands, which can easily induce acute angle-closure glaucoma and cause serious and unrecoverable vision damage to cataract patients. From this perspective, the sooner cataract patients should have it done, the safer it is.
In terms of indications for modern cataract ultrasound emulsification surgery, the better the vision of the patient, the softer the nucleus of the cataract, the safer and easier the surgery. However, in terms of economics, practicality and common eye habits, the indications for cataract ultrasonic emulsification combined with IOL implantation are: cataract ultrasonic emulsification combined with IOL implantation is feasible when the visual acuity drops below 0.5; for fine work and personal needs, cataract ultrasonic emulsification combined with IOL implantation can be performed below 0.6. surgery.
V. Is cataract surgery safe and reliable?
Cataract surgery is an effective treatment for cataract and has a long history. In the past half century, cataract surgery has made significant progress due to the application of surgical microscope, microsurgical instruments and artificial lens, improvement of suture materials and local anesthesia methods, and advancement of microsurgery technology. At present, cataract ultrasound emulsification combined with IOL implantation is widely used at home and abroad to treat cataract. This procedure is performed with a small corneoscleral incision. The hard lens nucleus is crushed into a celiac state and then aspirated out with an ultrasonic emulsifier, and then a folded IOL is implanted through the incision with a pusher. Due to the small surgical incision, the wound heals quickly and the vision recovers quickly.
What should I pay attention to after cataract surgery?
1. Maintain eye hygiene and use eye drops on time; 2. Do not rub your eyes and do not wash your eyes for a week; 3. Review regularly; return to the hospital immediately if there is any discomfort; 4. Do not do heavy physical work for one month and exercise gently.
7. Will cataract recur after cataract surgery?
Cataract surgery has removed the cloudy lens, so there is no problem of recurrence. However, due to the proliferation of the residual lens cortex and the epithelial cells shed in the posterior capsule of the lens during surgery, a membranous material is formed in severe cases. If the clouding of the membranous material is significant enough to block light and affect vision, it is called a posterior cataract. Posterior cataracts can be treated in an outpatient setting with a non-invasive, painless YAG laser to restore vision.
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