What kind of a world do people with cataracts face? Some people describe it this way: seeing is always covered with a veil, you can’t see clearly, your eyes seem to be covered by a thin layer, and you keep trying to wipe it off with your hands, but you can’t get it off.
About 285 million people in the world suffer from various causes of visual impairment, and 39 million of them suffer from blindness. Age-related cataracts are among the leading causes of blindness, accounting for 51% of all blindness.
The normal lens of the human eye is nearly completely clear; the term cataract refers to any degree of clouding within the lens. When we compare the eye to a camera, the lens is like the lens of the camera. Cataracts are like the lens of the camera becoming cloudy, making it difficult for light to enter and for clear, high-quality images to be obtained.
So who do cataracts love? Among the various types of cataracts, senile cataracts definitely occupy half of the population. As we age, the lens slowly hardens and becomes cloudy due to aging, gradually causing blurred vision. Early on, there may be double vision in one eye, circles around light, and objects that are not bright enough in color. Some elderly people suddenly find that they can see clearly without presbyopic glasses, thinking that they are “rejuvenated”, which is in fact one of the early symptoms of cataract.
“The misconception that cataracts only occur in old age has kept a large number of young and middle-aged patients from seeking timely medical treatment. Due to the popularity of electronic products, frequent Internet access, irregular work and rest, and bad habits such as smoking and drinking, cataracts tend to be younger nowadays. If you are in your 40s or 50s and find that you can’t see clearly, your colors are not bright, or you are nearsighted, it is likely to be a sign of cataract, so please go to the hospital in time.
There is also a genetic factor for developing cataracts. In Fuyang, Anhui Province, nearly ten people in three generations of a family suffer from cataracts and can only live in a blurred world. Their tragic situation was discovered by the Anhui Children and Youth Foundation when the local department of Fuyang City conducted a charity clinic for rural children. 15 years from 1978 to 1993, Liu’s five children were born one after another, and of the five, only the fifth was a son. However, except for the oldest two, whose vision was relatively normal, the other four siblings all inherited their father’s cataracts, and in their world, a blurred vision, where the stronger the light, the less clearly they could see.
Cataract specialists often see young cataract patients who need surgical treatment. “A few months old little brats can get cataracts?” Generally speaking, one-third of congenital cataracts have a genetic component, and many others are disseminated, or caused by viral infections in the first three months of pregnancy. If an infant or child has white pupil area, disinterest in brightly colored objects and light sources, nystagmus, upturned eyes, or “crossed eyes”, seek medical attention promptly and have surgery as soon as possible if needed.
In addition, patients with high myopia, diabetes, thyroid disease, long-term use of steroid hormones and other drugs or exposure to certain chemicals, outdoor workers with high exposure to ultraviolet rays, people living in highland areas, and patients with other combined eye diseases such as glaucoma, uveitis, retinitis pigmentosa, eye trauma and post-operative cataracts usually occur early and progress rapidly. It is recommended to seek medical attention promptly.