What is cataract, what are the symptoms, how is it treated?

Cataract is an eye disease that causes vision loss due to clouding of the natural lens of our eye. Protein fibers that accumulate in the lens prevent light from entering the eye and reduce the brightness of the image.

Cataract symptoms include blurred vision, flashing lights, color fading, and double vision. Cataracts can be treated with successful surgery and greatly improve the quality of vision. Early diagnosis and regular eye exams are important.

What is Cataract?

Cataracts, colloquially known as “curtain blow,” is the loss of transparency of the natural lens in the eye that provides vision, and becomes dull, creating the sensation of looking through a misty glass.

Cataracts are an eye disease that blocks the passage of light, causing blurred vision and can lead to blindness. Cataracts, which usually occur as a result of old age, can occur in both eyes, or occur in one eye and then the other eye.

While cataracts generally occur in middle age and older, depending on age, it can also occur in congenital babies. Cataract, one of the causes of permanent blindness, is difficult for the family to understand. Therefore, do not ignore your baby’s eye exam.

What Are the Causes of Cataracts?

Cataract formation is generally proportional to age. In middle-aged and elderly people, cataract formation begins as a result of aging of the lens of the eye. The lens of the eye (lens), which collects proteins and old cells, cannot throw them away because it is closed and causes my eye to lose its transparency.

At the same time, not wearing sunglasses causes cataracts to develop at a younger age. Using cheap and unhealthy sunglasses causes cataract formation with more damage to the eye. In addition to aging, the main cause of cataracts, there are other causes:

• diabetes
• Hypertension
• Diseases of the thyroid gland
• Prolonged exposure to sunlight (don’t wear sunglasses)
• Blow into the eye
• long-term drug use
• Vitamin C deficiency
• The drugs used during pregnancy and diseases like measles caused by the mother cause cataracts in the baby.

Newse at children

Although cataracts are known as one of the diseases of old age, it is also seen in children. Congenital cataracts are usually diagnosed at birth. Undiagnosed and untreated cataracts cause blindness in infants.

Erciyes University Faculty of Medicine Head of Ophthalmology Department Prof. dr. Dr. Ertuğrul Mirza made the following statements about the causes of cataracts in infants and children; “Cataract disease, which is thought to occur only in older people in society, is an eye disease that can also be seen in newborn children.

The disease, which is caused by the loss of transparency of the natural lens in the eye, ranks first among congenital childhood diseases. In this regard, genetic causes, diseases of the mother during pregnancy, especially infectious diseases, developmental defects in the womb and consanguineous marriages are among the causes of this disease. said.

Emphasizing that the diagnosis is very important so that congenital cataracts do not cause blindness in children; “Early diagnosis of congenital cataract disease in children is very important. If the disease is detected early, this problem in the eye can be easily solved with surgery.

It is therefore recommended that families consult a doctor immediately if they see a ‘gray-white’ curtain, especially in their children’s pupils. If it is delayed, the visual centers of both the eye and the brain of the infant and newborn will not develop due to cataract and the expected visual result cannot be obtained by the late intervention.

If congenital cataracts in children are left untreated, the child’s visual function may decline by up to 10% later in life. In the early diagnosis and surgery of this eye disease, it is very important that the child consult an ophthalmologist immediately when he sees the symptom of cataract. used the sentences.

What are the symptoms of cataracts?

Cataracts are an eye disease that causes vision loss due to clouding of the eye’s natural lens. It is a condition usually associated with old age, but it can sometimes develop as a result of congenital or trauma. Cataract symptoms can vary depending on the progression of the disease. Here are a few important tips about cataract symptoms:

1. Blurred or dull vision

The most common symptom of cataracts is when images appear blurry or dull. Patients may feel as if they are looking at the world from behind a curtain. Vision clarity gradually decreases and colors may fade.

2. Flashing lights or halos

People with cataracts may see flares or rings when they look at bright lights or the sun. This can cause problems with night driving or night vision.

3. Color fading

As the cataract progresses, patients may perceive colors less vibrant or pale. Fading is a common symptom, especially in shades of blue or purple.

4. Decreased feeling of contrast

People with cataracts may have difficulty distinguishing the contrast between objects. For example, black text can be difficult to read on a white page.

5. Double vision

Some cataract patients may experience double or blurred vision. This situation, which is caused by the incompatibility between the two eyes, can affect daily life.

6. Vision loss

As a cataract progresses, the patient’s field of view may narrow. Vision loss can often be mild at first, but can become more pronounced over time.

If you experience any of the above symptoms, it is important to see an ophthalmologist. The ophthalmologist will perform an eye exam and evaluate appropriate treatment options to diagnose cataracts.

Remember that treatment options may be more effective in cases of cataracts that are detected early. Treatment options may include glasses, contact lenses, and surgery. Your ophthalmologist will determine the most appropriate treatment plan for you.

How is cataracts treated?

Cataract, a very important disease that can cause blindness even if left untreated, cannot be treated with medication. The treatment of the patient is carried out only surgically. The most commonly used method of treatment is “Phacoemulsification”.

A small hole is opened in the eye and the lens is placed using the method called “Phaco”, which today has a very high success rate. No anesthesia is required in a very short procedure.

Early diagnosis and treatment is very important with cataracts. With the operation, the patient’s vision is restored in a short time. The recovery period after treatment is on average 15 days. The main things that the patient should pay attention to during this 15 day period; Do not rub the eye, avoid movements and behaviors that put pressure on the eye, and leaning forward will put pressure on the eye. The patient should avoid leaning forward during the healing process.

There is no need to wait for the cataract to mature and perform cataract surgery. Since the lens used in cataract surgery remains in the eye for life, its quality and compatibility with the eye are very important. At the same time, cataract formation is not repeated in people who have undergone cataract surgery.

Are glasses used after surgery?

Cataract surgery is a surgical procedure in which the natural lens clouded by cataract is removed and replaced with an artificial lens. After surgery, patients usually recover quickly and their vision improves significantly. However, in some cases, the use of glasses may be necessary after cataract surgery.

Artificial lenses placed during cataract surgery usually help restore a person’s ability to see far. This allows postoperative patients to see distant objects more clearly. However, close vision can sometimes be affected. Glasses may be required to see up close.

Glasses used after cataract surgery can generally be divided into two different types:

• Binoculars: After cataract surgery, some patients may still need glasses to see distant objects clearly. These are usually prescription glasses for farsightedness problems such as nearsightedness or farsightedness.
• Near Vision Glasses: In some patients, near vision may be affected after surgery. In this case, reading glasses or multifocal lenses can be used to see better up close. Such glasses can help to see objects up close.

However, the need to wear glasses may be different for each patient after cataract surgery. While some patients can live a life without glasses after surgery, others may still need glasses. This is because the postoperative visual status may vary from patient to patient.

When determining the need for glasses after cataract surgery, your eye doctor’s recommendations and prescriptions are important. After the exam, your doctor will evaluate your eyes and vision and make recommendations about the most appropriate glasses treatment for you.

How does the cataract eye look?

Cataracts occur on average between the ages of 50 and 60. At this age, the lens of the eye becomes dull and begins to harden. Symptoms include a decrease in color vibrancy and a decrease in visual quality. The person is disturbed by car headlights and cannot see details in foggy weather or in the dark.

How is cataract in the eye treated?

It is not possible to pass the cataract with drops, glasses or medicines. Drugs and herbs claimed to correct cataracts have been tried so far, but they do not cure cataracts. Cataract treatment is surgery.

What happens if the cataract progresses in the eye?

If the cataract is not treated, vision is completely destroyed. Other problems arise as a result of not treating cataracts in a timely manner. Glaucoma occurs when eye pressure rises. There is constant pain in the eye.

How is a cataract examination performed?

Cataract is diagnosed by biomicroscopic examination. Cataract is the loss of transparency of the lens, which is transparent like glass, making vision blurry. Diagnosis is made by biomicroscopic examination.

How long does a cataract last?

The formation and speed can vary from person to person. It can progress very quickly in some patients. Within 1 year the vision is completely closed. It progresses more slowly in some patients.

Who gets cataracts?

Cataract is generally a disease of old age. 90% of patients are older than 60 years. Cataracts, which are likely to occur in all age groups, can also occur in newborn babies. It is possible to encounter cataracts in middle age, children or young people.

Does cataract cause blindness?

Cataracts, known as curtain descent, are one of the leading causes of blindness. It is seen in an average of 25 million people each year. Cataracts make up 50% of the world’s blind population.