Cataract Surgery: Types, Symptoms, Causes, Treatment & Risk Factors

What are cataracts? You may think they're an inevitable part of ageing, but in reality, other factors can also cause them. 

Here you will learn about the causes of cataracts and how to treat them when you notice your vision changing or losing brightness over time! So if you are concerned about developing cataracts or want to know about cataract surgery, read on. 

What is a Cataract?

Cataracts are lenses in the eye that become clouded due to ageing or damage. Cataract surgery is very common for people over 80 because they often develop this condition and can no longer see clearly with their natural lens without treatment.

Cataracts are a common cause of impaired vision in both children and adults. The symptoms can be minor at first but eventually become significant enough that glasses no longer help to correct your sight. Surgical removal of the cloudy lens is usually required to fix this problem.

Cataract surgery usually takes around an hour and doesn't require an overnight stay in the hospital. You can go home shortly after the procedure, but you must rest up for at least two days before resuming normal activities.

Types of Cataracts

Depending on location, cataracts are subclassified into three main types:

• Nuclear cataract:- is a cataract located in the centre of the lens. The nucleus darkens with age, changing from clear to yellow and occasionally brown.
• Cortical cataract:- The layer of the lens that surrounds the nucleus is affected by a cortical cataract. The cataract resembles a spoke or a wedge.
• Posterior capsular:- cataract is found in the lens's back outer layer. This type frequently develops more quickly.

Symptoms of Cataract

The most common signs of this condition include blurred vision, light sensitivity and tunnel vision (being able only to see things near your field of view), and dry eyes in the morning. This makes it hard for people to even get out of bed, making their daily lives more challenging. 

Other major symptoms include: 

• Decreased night vision 
• Light sensitivity
• One needs bright lights to perform normal activities such as reading 
• Formation of halos around light 
• Colours fade
• Double vision in one eye

Cataracts usually don't bother you until they've grown enough to affect your vision. At first, you may be able to improve your vision with new eyeglasses, brighter lighting, or anti-glare sunglasses. But if these measures don't help, you may need surgery to remove the clouded lens and replace it with an artificial one. 

Causes of Cataract

The causes of cataracts are varied, but they often involve ageing and your environment. As you grow older, it becomes more difficult for the natural lens in your eye (the one that allows light to enter) to get cloudy or damaged — this process starts when you're about 40 years old. 

It can also happen because too much exposure over time leads to these proteins clumping together on their surface; whatever colour reflects off them will no longer be scattered by pigment cells within each layer.

People diagnosed with diabetes have a higher chance of developing cataracts. In most cases, cataracts can be treated surgically by removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial lens through cataract eye surgery.

Diagnosis of Cataract

A cataract is diagnosed during a comprehensive eye examination that includes testing your visual acuity and a thorough evaluation of your eyes. Your eye care professional will also ask about your medical history and any medications you take which may contribute to the development of a cataract. 

If you have diabetes, high blood pressure or any other medical condition, be sure to tell your eye care professional. A family history of cataracts also is important to share.

During the examination, your eye care professional will use bright light and special magnifying lenses to examine your eyes. They will check the health of your retina and optic nerve for signs of disease that can cause vision loss.

If a cataract is present, your eye care professional will observe how much it has blurred your vision and determine whether it is causing other problems, such as glare or nearsightedness. 

In some cases, they also may recommend special tests, such as ultrasound imaging, to determine the size and location of the cataract.

Treatment of Cataracts And Risk Factors

Cataracts can be treated with cataract surgery, which involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with a clear artificial lens. The cataract eye surgery procedure can be done using anaesthesia (numbing medication injected around the eye) combined with sedation (a medication to help you relax). 

Risk factors for cataracts include: 

• Age 
• Diabetes
• Smoking
• Prolonged exposure to sunlight. 

In most cases, cataracts can be successfully treated with surgery, but it is important to be aware of the risk factors so that you can take steps to prevent the development of cataracts.

Surgery For Cataracts :-

A cataract interferes with daily activities, so surgery may be needed.

Cataract surgery removes the eye's lens and replaces it with a synthetic one.

Artificial lenses improve vision without any maintenance. Some man-made lenses focus like youthful, healthy lenses. A removed cataract can't regrow.

There are typically two methods utilized for cataract surgery:

1. First Method:- A tiny probe is inserted into the eye during small-incision cataract surgery after a small incision is made on the side of the cornea, the transparent covering of the eye. 

The lens can be suctioned out by the probe's ultrasonic waves, which soften and break up the lens. The name of this procedure is phacoemulsification.

2. Second Method:- Extracapsular surgery involves a slightly bigger corneal incision to allow for the complete removal of the lens core. 

• An intraocular lens made of transparent plastic replaces the natural lens in the eye (IOL). 

• Contact lenses and, in certain situations, eyeglasses may be an alternative for vision correction if implanting an IOL is not feasible due to other eye issues.

Like any surgical procedure, cataract surgery carries a risk of bleeding and infection. 

Retinal detachment risk is also somewhat elevated after cataract surgery. 

It's crucial to go over the advantages and disadvantages of cataract surgery with your eye care professionals. 

Other eye diseases may make cataract surgery more necessary or disqualify a person from being a candidate for cataract surgery. 

One of the safest and most efficient surgical procedures now carried out in the US is cataract surgery. 

90% of people who get cataract surgery say their vision has improved after the procedure.

Recovery From Cataract Surgery

Most people who have cataract surgery experience a significant improvement in their vision. In fact, many patients report that their vision is better than it has been in years. However, it is important to remember that recovery from surgery takes time. 

Immediately after the procedure, your vision may be blurry, and you may experience some discomfort. Your doctor will likely prescribe eye drops to help with the healing process. It is also important to avoid rubbing your eyes or engaging in strenuous activity for at least a week after surgery. 

By following your doctor's instructions and taking things slowly, you can expect to enjoy a significant improvement in your vision.

Parting Words

Cataracts are a condition that can cause serious issues for your health and lifestyle if not treated soon. To prevent cataract formation, see an eye doctor regularly so you don't end up with blindness!

Want a cataract eye checkup at home? You can now avail of cataract testing in the comfort of your home. Book cataract tests today with Metropolis India and keep your health in check.