A visual guide to cataracts

The article was professionally consulted with Master, Doctor Hoang Thanh Nga - Ophthalmologist - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Ha Long International General Hospital.

Cataract is a condition in which the inner lens of the eye becomes cloudy naturally, without causing pain. Cataracts will block light, make it difficult for patients to see clearly and cause blindness if left untreated. Diseases are usually associated with age-related aging but they can sometimes develop in younger people.

In the normal eye, light passes through the lens. The lens focuses that light into a sharp image on the retina, relaying messages through the optic nerve to the brain. If the lens is cloudy, the image you see will be blurry. Other eye conditions (such as nearsightedness) also cause blurred vision, but cataracts produce some distinctive signs and symptoms.
Here are the effects of cataracts on your vision:
Blurry vision: Blurry vision at any distance is the most common symptom of cataracts. Visible images always appear to be covered with fog or dust. Over time, as cataracts get worse, less light reaches the retina. At this time, observation, especially driving at night, will become more difficult. Glare: Another early symptom of cataracts is glare, or sensitivity to light. Even lights in your home that didn't bother you before now seem too bright or have halos around. Double vision: Sometimes, cataracts can cause double vision, especially when you see with one eye. This is different from double vision, which occurs when the eyes are not aligned in the same direction. Color distortion: Cataracts can affect your ability to see colors, making some colors look blurry. Your eyesight may gradually turn brown or yellowish. This discoloration isn't obvious at first, but over time this can make it harder to distinguish between blues and purples. Appearance of "second sight": Some cases of cataracts tend to have better close-up vision. This is thought to be due to the fact that when the lens is cloudy, it tends to act as a higher power lens. This phenomenon is called “second sight”. However, as the cataract worsens, the condition disappears and vision worsens again, or even worse. New prescriptions: New prescriptions require frequent changes to eyeglasses or contact lenses. Because as cataracts progress, vision gets worse over time.

The majority of cases of cataracts are related to the aging process with the incidence in people over 65 years of age being more than 50%. Newborns are sometimes born with cataracts or because of trauma or disease. Exposure to ultraviolet (UV) rays can also increase the risk of cataracts and other eye diseases.

The exact cause of cataracts is so far not clear. Although the risk increases as you get older, these factors can also contribute to more disease:
Diabetes ; Smoke; Excessive alcohol use; Eye injury; Prolonged use of corticosteroids; Prolonged work in sunlight or exposure to radiation.

Most patients with cataracts can be diagnosed quickly by an eye exam. An ophthalmologist will examine your vision and eyes with a slit lamp microscope to look for problems with the lens and other organs. The pupils are dilated to allow better examination of the back part of the eye, where the retina and optic nerve are located.

Cure cataracts that have affected vision not by wearing glasses but by surgery. The doctor will remove the cloudy lens, then an artificial lens will be inserted to replace. The surgery is done the same day and you can safely go home the next day. If you have cataracts in both eyes, you will be scheduled to have surgery on each side.
There are 2 main types of cataract surgery. Among them, phaco surgery is more common. The cornea will be cut open and the cloudy lens will be broken up with ultrasound waves. A new intraocular lens will be placed in this position. Thus, the patient will no longer need to wear glasses after cataract surgery.

Recent developments in cataract surgery can correct both near and far vision. They minimize or eliminate the need to wear reading glasses after surgery. Conventional "monofocal" lenses are only suitable for distance vision, which means that patients will still need to wear reading glasses after surgery. Multifocal intraocular lenses may be an appropriate option in some patients to help improve both near and far vision. "Toric" implants are also available to correct astigmatism.

During the first few days, your eyes may be itchy and sensitive to light. You may be prescribed eye drops to aid in healing and asked to wear an eye shield or goggles for protection. It usually takes about 8 weeks for your eye to heal completely, although vision improves very soon after surgery. You may still need glasses for distance vision or reading.

Complications from cataract surgery are very rare. The most common risks are bleeding, infection, and changes in eye pressure, all of which are treatable when caught early. However, cataract surgery slightly increases the risk of retinal detachment and requires urgent treatment. Sometimes, vitreous tissue that remains after surgery and is used to support intraocular lens placement can continue to become cloudy over time, even years after surgery. The way to cure cataract at this stage is easy and effective permanently with laser.

Things you can do to prevent cataracts over time:
Don't smoke; Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes when going out in the sun or working with radiant light; Bring a hat, umbrella when going out in the sun; Good control of diabetes; Limiting alcohol intake. Cataract is the leading cause of vision loss and blindness in the world and in Vietnam. The decision to have cataract surgery or not depends on the condition of the disease. Rarely do cataracts require immediate removal. Therefore, if you don't feel that the disease is causing problems in your daily life, you may be able to delay the decision to have your cataract removed surgically.
=>>Advice from Master, Doctor Hoang Thanh Nga - Ophthalmologist - Department of Medical Examination & Internal Medicine - Vinmec Ha Long International Hospital: Patients need to go to the doctor soon to determine the degree of cataracts. crystals, the cause of cloudiness, so that appropriate treatment can be given to improve vision and avoid complications caused by the disease. Vinmec International General Hospital has full human resources and modern equipment to help diagnose and treat eye diseases.
At Vinmec Hospital, we can examine and advise on cataract surgery for subjects with suspicious symptoms, especially signs of blurred vision.
When you have an eye exam at Vinmec, you will get:
Comprehensive eye exam by an eye specialist. Perform blood tests, eye ultrasound. When surgery is indicated, the client is advised to choose an artificial lens, factors related to surgery, surgical prognosis, etc. Before surgery, the overall condition is assessed.

Reference source: webmd.com