Prevention of Early Cataract Symptoms and Causes

What is cataracts???

Cataract is an ophthalmic disease in which things appear cloudy as if they were foggy. In the human eye, there is a crystal that is transparent like an eyeball, which plays an important role in focusing on looking at things. This transparent lens can appear cloudy with age, inflammation in the eyes, or trauma. In general, 70% of the total population experiences cataract symptoms by the age of 60 or older, and 90% by the age of 70.

 

the cause of cataracts

 

Most of the congenital cataracts are unknown, but if the mother suffers from rubella during pregnancy, genetic, congenital metabolic disorders, and chromosomal abnormalities (down syndrome), not only ophthalmic tests but also internal tests are required. Acquired cataracts are the most common causes of senile cataracts with age, and endocrine diseases (diabetes, etc.), traumatic diseases, drugs (steroids, etc.), and guided diseases (glutinitis, retinal nutrition, etc.). The cause is unclear, but it is believed to be caused by changes in the permeability of the crystalline sac due to impaired metabolism of the crystalline lens, such as vitamin C deficiency, and amino acid metabolism.

 

Cataract Risk Factors

 

1. Disease-related factors such as diabetes

 

2. Factors related to lifestyle such as smoking and drinking

 

3. Environmental factors such as excessive exposure to ultraviolet rays (sunlight)

 

4. Genetic factors (in the case of cataract patients in the family)

 

5. Eye injury, surgery

 

 

cataract symptoms

 

 

cataract symptoms

 

Among cataract patients, people who had to wear magnifying glasses in the past can suddenly see fine letters without magnifying glass. This is because the refractive index increases as cataracts progress, resulting in myopia. But as cataracts progress, the clutter gets worse and then becomes invisible at all.

When congenital cataracts occur in children who cannot express their intention, symptoms such as failing to keep an eye on one place, not following the light well, shaking eyes in all directions, and frowning eyes appear. If you have these symptoms, you should go to the ophthalmologist for a thorough examination.

Cataract causes vision loss. Daytime is often accompanied by glare symptoms. Depending on the degree of cataracts, you can see it better in dark places or at night than in bright places during the day. Occasionally, even if one eye is covered, there is a symptom (monocular diplopia) in which two objects appear.

 

 

cataract treatment

Cataract treatment is largely divided into drug therapy and surgical therapy.

a drug treatment

 

Using eye drops or taking medicines in the early stages of cataracts can be expected to delay the progression of cataracts. But it's impossible to make a lens that's already morphed into its original transparent state with just these medications.

Occasionally, lens turbidity improves on its own and causes temporary vision improvement, but since there are no therapeutic drugs that have proven to be effective yet, the most obvious treatment for advanced cataracts is surgical therapy.

 

surgical treatment

Surgery is a very safe, effective, and surest treatment for advanced cataracts.

Cataract is a very common disease in the elderly, and it is very important to choose the right timing of surgery because the disease progresses more and more over time after not feeling any abnormal symptoms in the beginning.

Most people with cataracts in both eyes operate on one eye first, recover it, and then operate on the other eye.

Cataract surgery is performed under general anesthesia or local anesthesia, and the pain caused by surgery or anesthesia is minimal. The surgery takes about an hour, and if there is no problem, you can be discharged on the day of the operation.

 

Specific surgical methods for cataract treatment may vary slightly from doctor to doctor or hospital.

 

How to Prevent Cataract

 

There is no special prevention method for congenital cataracts, and early diagnosis is important. Senile cataracts are caused by a natural aging process with age increase, but there are reports that they are caused by strong ultraviolet rays, so wearing sunglasses outdoors can be helpful. In the case of traumatic cataracts caused by trauma, it is important to be careful not to get trauma to the eyes, and if you take or take drugs that can cause cataracts such as steroids, you should undergo regular ophthalmic checkups.