Posts Tagged ‘cataract’

Cataracts and vision loss

One quarter of all people in the UK aged over 75 will develop cataracts and after the age of 50 your chances of having cataracts really begin to increase. A cataract causes damage to the eye lens and the only available treatment to restore vision damaged by cataracts is the removal of the cataract and the damaged eye lens. Cataract surgeons then replace the natural eye lens with an intraocular lens to restore vision.

What is a cataract and what causes cataracts?

A cataract damages the eye lens, distorting the way light enters the eye and causing vision to become cloudy.

The eye lens works like a camera: light enters the eye and is sent in a clean line backwards through the eye to the retina. From the retina, electrical images are sent to the brain and these images are what we see.

When the eye lens becomes clouded by a cataract, light defracts as it enters the eye, sending fractured images towards the retina. The images we see become distorted or ‘cloudy’.

Cataracts are caused by a build up of proteins in the eye. These proteins gradually clump together and damage the eye lens. The longer a cataract is left untreated the more proteins that cloud the lens and the more damaged vision becomes.

Cataracts area common problem for people over the age of 50 – with 1 in 4 UK patients developing a cataract in a lifetime. Cataracts develop gradually with age but can also be caused by damage to the eye or as the result of a genetic problem in the case of congenital cataracts.

Different types of cataract can damage different parts of the eye lens and more than one cataract can develop at once. Cataracts commonly occur in both eyes at the same time.

What are the symptoms of a cataract?

The most common symptoms of cataracts are blurred or cloudy vision, difficulty in seeing bright colours, seeing halos or glare around bright lights and poor night vision. Cataracts symptoms will vary according to the type of cataract. As the cataract develops, symptoms of blurred, cloudy vision will increase and vision deteriorates.

How do cataracts develop and progress?

Once a cataract starts to develop, the condition will get worse over time. The speed a cataract develops will vary between patients but the more advanced a cataract becomes the more damage is caused to eye sight.

How are cataracts diagnosed?

Cataracts must be diagnosed by a qualified opthalmologist. The symptoms of cataract may be similar to those of another eye condition and it is important patients have a consultation with an eye clinic before booking cataract operations online.

To diagnose a cataract the opthalmologist will perform a series of eye tests:  a visual acuity test, pupil dilation test and a tonometry test. These tests can diagnose a cataract in the very early stages of cataract development which is why regular eye tests are strongly recommended, especially for people aged over 65.

What is recovery like after cataract surgery and what results can I expect?

Cataract surgery is performed as an outpatient operation. The surgery is complete within one hour and patients are able to return home the same day.

Immediately after cataract surgery, vision will be blurred due to the eye drops used to dilate and numb the eye for surgery. Patients are generally prescribed eye drops to protect the eye from infection as it heals and the new replacement lens settles in the eye. It is important that patients try to avoid irritating the eye until fully healed and waering an eye patch while sleeping can prevent rubbing the eye and causing a problem.

The recovery from cataract surgery is fast – most patients feel only a slight ache in the eye for one-two days post-surgery.

The results of cataract surgery are excellent with 95% of patients reporting an immediate improvement in their sight*. Patients can expect an end to blurred vision, annoying glare and halos from bright lights and an improvement in night vision.

What are the risks and complications of cataract surgery?

As one of the most commonly performed ophthalmology procedures, cataract surgery enjoys a very low complication rate and the surgical risks are low. However, as with all surgery it’s important to understand the risks and complications surrounding cataract surgery to help you make appropriate arrangements for the recovery period.

Frequently asked questions about cataracts

Will you be able to see or feel anything during cataract surgery? How long will the new lens last? You can find the answers to the most often asked questions about cataracts and cataract surgery by visiting our cataract FAQ page.

*statistics from NHS Choices

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Ways to prevent cataracts formation

Astronauts receive higher daily dose of radiation, especially on a long mission such as the future Mars flight. As a result, cataracts may occur more frequently in these professionals. Currently, NASA and the National Eye Institute have been cooperating in developing a non-invasive instrument that can be used to detect very early signs of cataracts and monitor any progression.

The Alpha crystalline proteins in the lens are thought to help the lens maintain its refractive index, which allows the lens to focus light on the retina and offer clear vision. Oxidative stress may cause some proteins to break down in the lens, resulting in damaged proteins. Once these damaged proteins and other damaged cellular substances are crossly linked, they can lead to large clumps and form opacity in the lens. This opacity can gradually interfere the eyesight when they grow large enough and become cataracts.

This new instrument is supposed to evaluate the function of Alpha crystalline proteins and measure their levels as well as changes. Originally developed for space program, this measurement method can now be used to detect early signs of protein damage caused by oxidative stress. Age-related cataract, diabetes, and some neurological diseases are closed associated with oxidative stress.

Oxidative stress can be caused by UV radiation, drugs, chemicals, smoking, dietary components as well as other environmental factors. Alpha crystalline proteins in normal level can prevent these damage proteins from aggregating into clumps. However, Alpha crystalline level will be lowered due to natural aging. As a result, cataracts may develop.

As mentioned before, oxidative stress is the original cause in the lens of cataract formation. Currently, antioxidants are widely accepted to prevent cataracts, although their capacity is also unclear. In detail, lutein and zeaxanthin are two of the antioxidants that can reduce the incidence of cataract formation. A daily supplement containing antioxidants is helpful in preventing cataracts formation. These antioxidants can be gained from vegetables and fruits.

People should also control some risk factors such as smoking, obesity and eating a diet high in refined food with high sugar content. Smoking is believed to systemically decrease antioxidants in the body. Some experts also think that visible blue light can cause oxidative damage in the retina. UV protection by wearing sunglasses or UV-blocking contact lenses is also quite necessary.

More related articles:

·Causes for various congenital cataracts

·Cataract surgery preparation and outcome

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How a Cataract Surgery Is Done

Cataract is the clouding of the lens of the eyes. It affects vision. A thin lining of cloudy natural lens is removed from the eye because it blocks the passage of light. This is how a cataract surgery is done. Cataract surgery is a harmless procedure. Every year, there are more than 1.6 Americans who undergo this treatment to repair their vision. More than half of the American population have cataract or may have been through a cataract surgery by the age of 80. Some people believe that when one eye has cataract, the other eye will definitely be next. This is a myth. Cataract doesn’t spread. It can occur in either or both eyes though.

 

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On the day of the surgery itself, there is a list of things to do such skipping breakfast and avoiding intake of liquids. An eye drop to dilate pupils and sedative are given prior to the actual procedure. Topical anesthesia is also given in order for the patient not to feel the pain. After the areas around the eyes were completely cleansed and after a sterile covering is put into place, at least a small cut is done into the eye to enable the surgeon to remove the cloudy lens. There are two methods to remove the cloudy lens. One is through sonically breaking up the cataract then extracted out of the eye. The other one is through mechanically breaking up the cataract into small pieces then removed from the eye through a small incision. After this, a plastic or silicon intraocular lens will replace the natural lens that was taken off the eye.

 

After the operation, a protective shield is placed on the eye. Then the patient is usually sent home after few minutes in the recovery room. Surgeons advise patients to apply eye drops for a number of times in a day. This goes on for few weeks depending on the surgeon’s advice. Just like any other medical procedure, there are dos and don’ts patients are given to ensure effectiveness of the operation.

 

The price of a cataract surgery is around $3,000, exclusive of health insurance. Fortunately, HMOs, Medicare and other health insurances cover this specific surgery. It is indeed pricey however, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery reports 98% of the patients believe it is highly recommended since it simply worked for them.

 

 

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Cataract surgery preparation and outcome

Early signs of cataracts such as declining visual clarity may be ok. You are still able to drive, watch television and so on. But if your daily lives are severely affected by advanced cataracts that can not be corrected by plastic eyeglasses or contacts, it is the right time to receive a cataract surgery. During a surgery, the clouding on your lens will be removed and an artificial intraocular lens will be implanted to restore your focusing power.

Certain medications and nutritional supplements may cause side effects during a cataract surgery, so that the patient should consultant the doctor that whether he should stop taking certain medications. Another critical issue is the selection of IOL type: a single vision IOL or a presbyopia-correcting IOL. Multifocal IOLs are always more expensive but they will provide more clear vision for people above 40. After determining the IOL type, another preparation before the surgery is the measurement of IOL power. For most of the patients, a cataract surgery will treat only one eye at a time, even if both of the eyes have cataracts. If necessary, the other eye will be corrected at least two weeks later.

On the day of the surgery, the patient may be asked to avoid drinking liquids and eye makeup. For eye relaxation, a sedative may be used and your eye skin will be comprehensively cleansed. Using an ultrasound-driven instrument, the doctor will make an incision into your eye, so that your lens’ cloud can be divided into small pieces. Another instrument will be used to get them out through the incision. The last two steps are implanting the IOL and suturing the incision.

On your way home after the surgery, a protective shield is needed to block sun rays. During the following few weeks, eye drops prescribed by your doctor should be applied several times every day. It is also important to avoid some things during the recovery period, such as heavy lifting, any activity that increases your eye stress, water contact, dust etc… For best outcome, you should also follow those special instructions from your doctor.

Even if the surgery has been performed successfully, certain complications may occur, such as glaucoma and intraocular pressure buildup. Other rare conditions include de-centered IOL, tearing of the posterior capsule and potential detached retinas. Some doctors think that detached retinas have no direct relation to the surgery, since some patients have already suffered from that before the surgery. Patients with high myopia may need to take a YAG laser capsulotomy procedure to correct a secondary Cataract, which increases the risk of detached retina. The most severe complication should be endophthalmitis, which causes widespread inflammation or infection. Fortunately, the rate of developing endophthalmitis is as low as 0.1%.

It is reported that as much as 95.5% of patients can restore normal 20/40 vision and sight-threatening complications occur on only 2% of the patients, most among which are old individuals. The most satisfying outcomes are always found on young people.

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The selection of cataract surgeons

Most cataract surgeons can deal with common types of cataracts, such as removing clouded lens and replacing a standard IOL. What the patient should pay attention to are the types of IOLs and their costs.

However, the implantation of a multifocal IOL will cost the patient much more, and demands more expertise from the surgeon. The extra fee for a multifocal IOL may reach as high as $2,500, which is out of the Medicare and insurance plans. The benefits from multifocal IOLs lie in that they can restore your vision at multiple distances: near vision, intermediate vision and distance vision. Many physical and optical factors may exclude a person as a candidate for multifocal IOLs. Actually, a standard surgery with single-vision IOLs is enough for the majority of people. A standard cataract surgery provides promising distance vision.

Even if you choose a standard surgery, there are many aspects you should ask your friends and relatives for their reviews about their experiences, such as the surgeon’s courtesy, detailed billing, follow-up care and the most importantly, outcome. You may also get recommendation for the optometrist or ophthalmologist who has diagnosed your cataracts. Once you have made a primary choice of a certain surgeon, you should consult his or her staff some issues directly: the number of procedures he has succeeded, eye infection rate and the IOL type. Of course, you can get some information from their handouts.

The selection of surgeons for a multifocal IOL implantation involves more complexity. The first problem you should be aware of is the type or types of multifocal IOLs that the surgeon can deal with. There are four FDA-approved multifocal IOLs: IQ ReSTOR, ReZoom, Tecnis Multifocal and Crystalens, all of which require different procedures, expertise and also have slightly different outcomes. Patients should never believe in a surgery that guarantees a perfect vision recovery. Qualified surgeons will inform you about potential risks and complications and make your expectations realistic. This is very important since no IOL can guarantee perfect vision. The surgeon may also advise the patient to take an additional astigmatism correction procedure.

The surgeon’s credibility for a multifocal IOL surgery is critical, since most of the standard cataract surgeons can not insert a multifocal IOL. Some organizations offer validation information of cataract surgeons, such as the American Academy of Ophthalmology, the American Society of Cataract and Refractive Surgery and the National Practitioner Data Band.

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Vision Library is the information source in area of vision care, including eyeglasses, sunglasses, contact lenses, sports protective eyewear, vision error and diseases, vision surgery, ageing and kid’s vision etc., solely sponsored by Firmoo.com, an emerging online optical store offering high quality eyewear at the lowest prices.Firmoo’s return and refund policy make any purchase risk-free.

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