Eye Cataracts And Cataract Surgery

Definition

A cataract is a gradually developing opacity of the lens or lens capsule of the eye light shining through the cornea is blocked by this opacity. It  commonly occur bilaterally, and each progresses independently. Exceptions are traumatic cataracts, which are usually unilateral, and congenital cataracts, which may remain stationary. Cataracts are most prevalent in people older than age 70 as part of the aging process. The prognosis is generally good surgery and it improves vision in 95% of affected people. Cataracts has three types such as a nuclear cataract, cortical cataract and subcapsular cataract. In which nuclear cataract, this cataract forms in the nucleus, the center of the lens, and it may be occur due to natural aging changes. In which cortical cataract, gradually extends its spokes from the outside of the lens to the center. Many diabetics develop cortical cataracts. In which, subcapsular cataract begins at the back of the lens. People with diabetes, retinitis pigmentosa or those taking high doses of steroids may develop a subcapsular cataract.

Causes of cataract

• Aging
• Congenital disorders
• Genetic abnormalities
• Traumatic cataracts
• Complicated cataracts
• Glaucoma
• Retinal detachment
• Hypoparathyroidism
• Uveitis
• Foreign body injury
• Atopic dermatitis
• Maternal rubella during the first trimester of pregnancy
• Exposure to ultraviolet rays
• Retinitis pigmentosa
• Exposure to ionizing radiation or infrared rays

Some causes of cataract occur only in women researchers suspect that these causes may be related to hormonal changes and adverse events in pregnancy and childbearing, which are linked to higher mortality. Pathophysiology may also vary with each form of cataract. Senile cataracts show evidence of protein aggregation, oxidative injury and increased pigmentation in the center of the lens. Cataract development goes through four stages such as immature, mature, tumescent, hypermature.

Symptoms of Cataract

• Gradual painless blurring and loss of vision due to lens opacity
• Loss of vitreous humor
• Wound dehiscence from loosening of sutures and flat anterior chamber or iris prolapse into the wound
• Milky white pupil due to lens opacity
• Hyphema, which is a hemorrhage into the eye's anterior chamber
• Vitreous-block glaucoma
• Blinding glare from headlights at night due to the inefficient reflection of light rays by the opacities
• Retinal detachment
• Poor reading vision caused by reduced clarity of images
• Better vision in dim light than in bright light in patients with central opacity; as pupils dilate, patients can see around the opacity.
• Infection

Treatment of Cataract

• Treatment for cataract may include extracapsular cataract extraction to remove the anterior lens capsule and cortex typically performed by using phacoemulsification to fragment the lens with ultrasonic vibrations.
• You can also use laser surgery after an extracapsular cataract extraction to restore visual acuity.
• Another treatment for this disease is contact lenses or lens implantation after surgery to improve visual acuity, binocular vision, and depth perception.