Cataract is an eye disease that causes the lens of the eye behind the pupil to lose its transparency over time, causing blurred vision, and is often seen in middle age and older.
Although cataracts are often seen as a consequence of aging, they can be congenital and develop later due to various external factors. Cataracts can occur in both eyes and do not spread from one to the other. The rate of progression of the disease often varies depending on the cause of its onset. Cataracts that occur after eye traumas and eye surgeries progress faster than the age-related type.
The main cause of vision loss as a result of cataracts is that the light entering the eye from outside is not refracted properly as it passes through the lens that has lost its transparency. As a result, the image on the retina is not focused as it should be and is scattered in the eye. Although cataracts cause severe vision loss, they do not cause blindness.
Cataract Onset
Just behind our pupil is our natural lens, which gives our eyes a refraction of 10 at a distance and 13 at close range. With advancing age, our natural lens loses its transparency and becomes opaque. Initially, cataracts do not completely affect vision. This is because it does not initially cover the entire lens of the eye. The onset of cataracts is in the form of dulling of colors and decreases in the quality of vision.
How does a cataract patient see?
An eye with cataracts begins to see as if looking through a fogged glass. As the cataract progresses, it significantly reduces vision and negatively affects the patient's life. Cataracts can be diagnosed with a simple eye examination. However, a detailed eye examination should be performed to determine whether the patient has other eye diseases accompanying cataracts. In the examination; the transparency of the cornea, the structure of the cataract, the position of the lens, the width of the pupil, the condition of the retina are examined in detail before the operation plan and the patient is evaluated in terms of cataract treatment and operation.
What are the Symptoms of Cataract?
- As the most obvious symptoms of cataract,
- Decreased visual acuity
- Deterioration in night vision
- Blurred vision in sunny weather
- Sensitivity to light
- Frequent changes in spectacle numbers
- Blurring of colors
Similar complaints can be listed
Is it Possible to Prevent Cataract?
It is not possible to completely prevent cataracts. However, measures can be taken against the risk of cataract formation:
- Protection from sunlight, wearing sunglasses
- Proper and balanced nutrition
- Avoiding smoking and alcohol consumption
- People with diabetes should keep their disease under control
At what age is cataract seen?
Cataract manifests itself with a slight dulling and hardening of the lens of the eye in people aged 50-60 years on average. However, it can be observed at an earlier age, even in infancy. Cataracts can also be seen in diabetics, patients who are exposed to eye trauma or those who use cortisone for a long time.
How Does Cataract in the Eye Go Away?
It is not possible to cure a cataract with medication or glasses. The only treatment for cataract is surgery. As the cataract progresses, it begins to disturb the patient's life by significantly reducing vision. The technology used for cataract surgery and the quality of the lens inserted into the eye determine the success of the surgery and most importantly the quality of the patient's vision.
How Long Does Cataract Surgery Take?
Cataract surgery takes approximately 15-20 minutes. After the operation, the patient can usually be discharged on the same day. If the person has cataracts in both eyes, the operation is performed at intervals determined by the doctor; intervention in both eyes is planned at certain intervals.
What is the Treatment of Cataract?
For the treatment of cataracts, most ophthalmologists recommend various treatment options depending on the level of the disease after diagnosis. With the use of certain medications, vitamin supplements and especially the use of close glasses, the person can continue his/her daily life at the initial stage of the disease. However, when the disease starts to affect the daily life of the person at later stages, surgery is considered.
The only permanent method of cataract treatment is surgery. All methods other than surgery are aimed at slowing the progression of the disease and slightly improving the quality of life of the person. Cataract surgery may be considered as an option when the disease starts to seriously affect the person's living conditions.
Cataract Surgery
Cataract surgery is the process of removing the patient's natural intraocular lens and replacing it with an artificial intraocular lens using various surgical methods. It is a microsurgical operation.
The operation starts with numbing the eye with local anesthesia. The eye is entered with the help of a micro incision made at the edge of the eye. The cataract is removed with various surgical methods. Finally, the intraocular lens is replaced with an artificial lens through another incision and the operation is completed.
Intraocular Lens Operation with Phaco Method
The phaco method is one of the most commonly used surgical methods for permanent treatment. Cataract surgery with the phaco method is an operation that does not require stitches. Sound waves are used to separate the natural intraocular lens.
Postoperative recovery time is fast. The patient is discharged on the same day after the operation. If needed, the same procedure can be performed in the other eye at one day intervals.
What to Consider for Cataract Surgery?
Cataract treatment is painless with the development of modern techniques. The success of cataract treatment depends not only on the experience of the physician but also on the technologies, consumables and quality of the lens.
When the right lens is selected, the person can see clearly after surgery and the quality of vision adds comfort to his/her life. Many important factors such as age, lifestyle, hobbies, profession and the structure of the eye should be taken into consideration when choosing the lens. The lenses used must have undergone adequate tests and their success must be proven with a quality certificate.
Is Cataract Surgery Risky?
As with all surgeries, there are some risks in cataract surgery. However, thanks to the developing technology and methods, the success of cataract surgeries is quite high. In addition, with timely intervention without delay, the risks of complications that may occur in cataract surgery will be minimized. Lens selection and correct application is the most important stage of this surgery. The type of lens to be implanted in the patient's eye, its degree, the angle at which it will be placed in the eye, and the lens number (which can correct both astigmatism, distance and near) must be determined exactly after the measurements made. It is not possible for these lenses to cause allergies or not to be accepted by the eye. The intraocular lenses inserted during surgery remain in the patient's eye for life.
Frequently Asked Questions
- Will I regain my vision after cataract surgery?
- If there is no reason other than cataract in the eye that reduces vision, an eye that has undergone cataract surgery regains its former vision.
- Will I wear glasses after cataract surgery?
- During cataract surgery, the number of the lens placed in the eye can be adjusted to see far or near clearly. Thus, if the eye of the operated person is zeroed for distance, he/she can see far without glasses, but needs to wear glasses for near. If the eye is made myopic with the lens implanted in the surgery, that person will be able to see near without glasses, but will need glasses for distance. If a multifocal lens is preferred, myopia, hyperopia and astigmatism problems can be solved with a single lens.
- Do I need to have cataract surgery for my vision to deteriorate?
- No, surgery can be performed at any stage of the cataract, starting from the onset of cataract formation and decrease in vision.
- Does having cataract surgery at a very late stage (advanced cataract) affect the success of the surgery?
- Yes, surgery for very advanced cataracts is more likely to cause problems. Also, the duration of surgery is longer in advanced cataracts.
- Do I need anesthesia for cataract surgery?
- General anesthesia is not used for cataract surgery except for pediatric and infant patients. In cataract surgery, different types of local anesthesia are used for adult patients. The eye is numbed by injection around the eye and at the same time eye movements are eliminated.
- If I need laser surgery after cataract surgery, can I have it?
- Laser surgery can be performed if your eye is found suitable after the examination.