Cataract FAQ

A cataract is a clouding of the clear lens. If the eye is compared to a camera, the lens is like a lens, which plays the role of concentrating light and imaging. Normally, the lens is transparent. For any reason, the transparency of the lens is reduced or the color is changed, causing blurred vision and decreased vision, which are called cataracts.

The main cause of cataracts is aging, but it is not exclusive to the elderly and can occur at any age. Therefore, to do a good job of eye disease screening, prevention is particularly critical. Here, we select cataract patients in the clinical consultation more several questions, for everyone to answer questions.

First, why do I get cataracts?

The causes of cataracts include developmental abnormalities, aging, genetics, other eye diseases, metabolic abnormalities, and malnutrition, among which old age is the most common cause. After middle age, many body organs will age, and the aging of the lens is manifested as a decrease in transparency, causing senile cataracts.

Abnormal development is due to genetic changes or viral infections. Abnormal development of the lens tissue, resulting in opacity of the lens, which exists before and after birth or gradually forms after birth, is called congenital cataract or developmental cataract.

High myopia is also an important cause of cataract, in the myopia state, the vitreous body is prone to liquefaction, resulting in changes in the microenvironment in the eye, and the lens is prone to turbidity.

Other factors, such as ultraviolet light, taking hormone medications, eye trauma, and diabetes, can also cause cataracts. Among them, it is worth mentioning that many families now have a variety of eye massager, do not use fascia gun massage orbit and eye, so as not to damage the lens, resulting in traumatic cataract or lens dislocation.

Second, what are the manifestations of congenital cataract?

When parents find that children tilt their heads to see things, poor fixation function, can not accurately grasp items, are not interested in colored objects or moving objects, and often rub the eyes, they should be vigilant about the occurrence of congenital cataracts.

Infants and young children is a key period of visual development, if suffering from congenital cataracts will affect visual development, eventually leading to permanent vision damage, only early detection, timely treatment, in order to obtain better vision recovery, parents must pay attention to.

School-age children may be unable to see the blackboard clearly, read and write very close together, in addition to squint, head tilt, nystagmus and so on.

Not all congenital cataracts have the above symptoms, and young children and children cannot express or accurately express visual feelings, so routine screening of children's eye diseases is very necessary.

Third, how to detect cataracts in the elderly early?

When the following symptoms occur, you should be alert to cataracts and seek medical attention in time.

Changes in visual acuity middle-aged and elderly people appear painless, gradually worsening blurred vision, the degree of myopia that has not changed for many years, or changing the lens degree can not improve visual acuity.

Reading glasses are a powerful tool for many elderly friends to read books or mobile phones. When you find that the reading glasses are reduced or you can see closely without wearing reading glasses, is it "rejuvenating"? Noooo! Do not think that your vision is getting better, this may be an early sign of cataracts.

When you look at the light at night, you find that the light has a "tail", or a ring of red; When you see things with one eye, you see two objects, or even multiple objects. All these indicate that the texture of the lens has changed unevenly, and the light has been scattered.

Other symptoms In addition to the above three manifestations, senile cataract may also appear color changes, blurred vision in the sun, can see things but the details are not clear.

4. When is the right time for surgery?

Currently, the most effective treatment for cataracts is surgery. The mainstream surgical method is phacoemulsification of cataract and intraocular lens implantation. After cataract removal, an intraocular lens is often implanted.

There are many options for intraocular lenses, including single-focus, presbyopia correctable intraocular lenses, and astigmatic correctable intraocular lenses. Patients can choose according to individual eye conditions, work and life needs.

Not all cataract patients need surgery right away, but surgery can be considered when vision loss affects normal life and work.

For senile cataracts, it is not recommended that patients wait until the cataract is "mature" and completely invisible before going to the doctor, because in the process of cataract becoming "mature", complications are prone to occur, and the longer the delay, the more difficult the operation, and the longer the postoperative recovery time.

5. Can cataracts be prevented?

For cataracts, especially senile cataracts, although its occurrence is inevitable, it can delay its progression. Prevention tips are as follows: When outdoor activities, you can wear a visor or sunglasses, etc., in order to reduce the damage of ultraviolet light to the lens. Active prevention and treatment of chronic diseases, such as diabetes.

Myopia, glaucoma, uveitis, eye surgery can lead to cataract, therefore, pay attention to the prevention and treatment of related eye diseases, can also reduce the risk of cataract. In addition, developing good lifestyle habits, such as a balanced diet, reasonable nutrition, smoking cessation, alcohol withdrawal, active participation in physical exercise, reducing the use of drugs and reducing the risk of trauma, can also reduce the risk of cataracts.