Cataract: causes, symptoms, treatment and prevention

What is a cataract?

Cataract is an eye condition in which the lens of the eye becomes partially or completely cloudy and loses its elasticity.

Acting as a natural lens, the naturally transparent lens is able to refract light rays and transmit them further to the retina. The loss of transparency leads to the fact that the lens ceases to transmit light.

Vision regresses (deteriorates) over time to such an extent that an absolute loss of vision can occur.

Among ophthalmic diseases, cataracts are considered one of the more common diseases.

Diagnosed to a greater extent in humans old agebut it can also be diagnosed among young people.

Types and stages

Ophthalmologists distinguish several types of cataracts:

1. Nuclear: with this form, the central part of the lens darkens, its opacity is observed. The disease develops extremely slowly, for the most part affecting the vision of objects far from the patient. The visual acuity of close objects is often not lost and remains at a fairly good level.
2. Cortical: the most common species. Development occurs gradually, passing alternately from the first stage to the last. The lens becomes cloudy, taking the form of wedges. Gradually vision starts to decline, this happens throughout several years. The severity of the vision of the surrounding world changes evenly.
3. Subcapsular: early, rather active drop in vision is characteristic. The subcapsular view complicates vision, vision in bright light; in the dark period of the day, flashes may occur around sources of illumination, light. This type of disease is characterized by the formation of subcapsular vacuoles, called water gaps and other signs of hydration of the eye lens. At first, vacuoles appear with punctate opacities near the posterior capsule, then appear near the anterior capsule. Because of this manifestation, the lens takes on a reticular appearance. The subsequent propagation of turbidity occurs radially and in accordance with the direction to the equator.

According to the progression of the disease, 3 stages can be distinguished:

1. Initial:lens opacity occurs in a streak-like or cloud-like form, going from the periphery to the center. The size of the lens is moderately enlarged.
2. Ripening (immature): opacity covers almost the entire cortex of the lens, and the increase in the lens also progresses in proportion to the increase in edema.
3. Mature (final stage): there is a complete clouding of the stroma or lens capsule.

Causes

We are unable to influence such a natural process as the aging of the human body.

Along with the rest of the organs, the lens of the eye also wears out over time, starting to grow cloudy.

It is because of age-related changes that this disease is more often diagnosed in a large number of adults, at the age of 65.

In addition to the main cause of development, there are factors that can aggravate the situation:

• a variety of eye injuries;
• hereditary tendency;
• the presence of other ophthalmic diseases;
• harmful effects of ultraviolet, radiation and microwave radiation;
• long-term use of certain pharmaceutical drugs;
• bad ecology;
• addictions (tobacco smoking, alcohol abuse).

Among other things, endocrine disorders contribute to the formation:

• impaired metabolism,
• diabetes.

If the immune system begins to lose its protective functions, then this pushes to the development of the disease.

The lens has no vessels and nerve endings, such is its natural structure. For this reason, the course of inflammatory processes in it is not typical. The eyeball consists of almost equal proportions of water and protein tissue.

Under the influence of sunlight, some chemical processes take place in the lens, due to which toxic substances are released.

When toxic substances react with the proteinaceous tissue of the eye, the process of clouding is triggered.

Such an action takes place in the eye almost constantly, but the protective functions of the organism itself may well cope with the harmful effects of these toxins.

Cataract symptoms

The main sign, thanks to which a person is able to suspect the development of the disease: drop in vision.

But in some cases, such a symptom may well be absent due to the fact that the disease appears on different zones of the lens.

This is possible if only the periphery of the lens is affected.

• The so-called flies that appear in front of the eyes with frequent eye strain also lead to impairment.
• The clarity of objects is lost, they bifurcate (diplopia). This makes it difficult to work with small objects. Problems can also be during reading, watching TV channels, working with a computer.

As the disease develops, it can distort the normal perception of colors, exacerbating the sensitivity to light.

As the disease progresses doctor (Ophthalmologist or Oculist) can record changes by external signs: the color of the pupil is lost, it becomes whitish, over time it can become white entirely.

At the first sign, you do not need to let the disease take its course, this will entail a significant deterioration in vision.

Eye cataract is considered one of the most unpleasant ophthalmic diseases, but nowadays medicine offers a large number of effective ways to combat it.

Eye cataract treatment

It is impossible to cure the disease without surgery, using only medication or traditional medicine methods.

However, the vast majority of medicines and traditional medicines can be used for prevention purposes. This will also make it possible to reduce the intensive development of the disease by an order of magnitude.

The early stages are treated conservatively. Various eye drops.

The most common cataract eye drops are:

• Vitafacol;
• Vitayodurol;
• Taufon;
• Oftan Katochrom;
• Smirnov drops;
• Vicein.
  

Treatment with eye drops, undoubtedly, has a positive effect on the general condition of the eyes, inhibits the progression, but it will not help to cure completely.

Surgical intervention

Surgery as a method of getting rid of the disease is the most reliable and effective method.

Surgical intervention is relevant if there is a sharp drop in vision, acuity is lost, pain appears.

In order to make life easier for the patient, a local operation is performed, during which the source of the disease is removed and its development stops.

Modern medicine uses 4 types of operations:

1. Laser surgery;
2. Extracapsular extraction;
3. Ultrasonic phacoemulsification;
4. Intracapsular extraction.

Before surgery, you must undergo a thorough examination and be monitored continuously by a doctor.

The correct solution for the disease is the implantation of an artificial lens instead of the deteriorated lens.

However, immediately before introducing a foreign body, it is necessary to consult a doctor, establish the stage of cataract, probable threats, complications in the future.

The purpose of surgical intervention in case of illness is the removal of the damaged lens and its subsequent replacement with a lens of artificial origin.

Despite the complexity of the work, such an operation is considered one of the safest in the field of ophthalmology. Difficulties during the operation happen rarely. Most often, the patient expects a complete restoration of vision.

During the operation, the doctor uses a large number of microscopic instruments.

When replacing the lens of the eye applied laser equipment with high precision and allows making small cuts on the retina.

Such an incision is quite enough for the further implantation of an artificial lens, and the incisions are overgrown quickly enough, therefore, the patient's postoperative recovery will not take much time.

During the operation, the surgeon will need concentration, very high precision and almost jewelry skill.

Modern equipment makes it possible to simplify the doctor's work, insure and reduce the risk of an undesirable outcome of the operation.

Prevention and recommendations

Prevention includes a small list of rules, the conscientious observance of which will help protect the eyes from harmful external influences.

Therefore, if you want to avoid detection of this disease in yourself, specialists recommend observing the following points:

1. On sunny days, you should wear Sunglasses to reduce exposure to ultraviolet radiation. The eyes in these glasses are under reliable protection, and the correct choice of frames will also add style and beauty to your look.
2. Give up bad habits, preferably from smoking in the first place.
3. For postmenopausal women, hormone replacement therapy is recommended.
4. You should introduce foods that are rich in antioxidants into your diet. These are vegetables, herbs and fruits. They are able to slightly slow down the natural aging processes of the body. Also will not be superfluous vitamins E, A, B and zinc. When used correctly, a storehouse of nutrients contains blueberries. This delicious product is one of the best for preventing many eye diseases. Frozen blueberries lose most of their beneficial properties during the freezing process. For this reason, it is worth including fresh berries in your diet.

If there is no opportunity to eat the necessary healthy foods in the right amount, then it is permissible to replenish your diet with any supplement available to you, vitamin complexcontaining the required substances.

As a rule, such supplements and vitamins are specialized, their purpose is reflected in the name.

An example is the vitamin complex Blueberry forte.

Gymnastics for the eyes

Do not neglect massage and gymnastics for the eyes. This is an excellent preventive method against the occurrence of this disease and, if performed correctly, gymnastics will help the eyes to rest and relax.

Massaging the eyes will improve blood circulation, which is extremely useful in preventing most eye diseases.

1. First you need to do a light warm-up.
2. The fingers move along the lower eyelid, heading towards the nose.
3. In turn, the fingers move along the upper eyelid, heading to the temples.
4. It is not worth pressing with force, light movements will be enough.

A simple massage procedure will help relieve tension in the eyes and give them rest. After all, excessive eye strain is the source of most diseases.

It is important not to forget that vision is a priority way of a person's perception of the surrounding world, through which a huge amount of information is collected. Therefore, it plays a very important role in human life and requires monitoring and timely treatment.