Cataract treatment

People suffer from cataracts due to clouding of the lens of the eye, which occurs due to metabolic disorders, accumulation of proteins and oxidative stress in the lens cells. This leads to a loss of its transparency.

The main reasons for the development of cataracts:
1. Age-related changes (most common cause)
- Aging of the body - a violation of protein metabolism in the lens - its turbidity.
- By the age of 80, most people have signs of cataracts.
2. Chronic diseases
- Diabetes mellitus - excess glucose changes the structure of lens proteins.
- Hypothyroidism, metabolic disorders, calcium metabolism disorders.
3. Medical factors
- Long-term use of corticosteroids, psychotropic drugs.
- Some eye drops containing steroids.
4. Ultraviolet radiation
Prolonged exposure to the sun without eye protection contributes to damage to the protein structure of the lens.
5. Eye injuries
Mechanical damage or burns can cause traumatic cataracts.
6. Genetic factors
Heredity plays a role in the development of congenital or early cataracts.
7. Radiation exposure
Radiation (including radiation therapy) can damage the lens.

Additional risk factors:
- Smoking
- Alcohol
- Poor nutrition (lack of antioxidants - vitamins C, E)
- Obesity
- Eye infections
- Work with high temperatures (for example, in glass blowers)

It is possible to detect cataracts at an early stage, when there are no pronounced symptoms, only during a preventive examination by an ophthalmologist. At this stage, a person may not yet feel a deterioration in vision, but structural changes are already beginning in the lens.

How exactly is early cataract detected?
1. Biomicroscopy (slit lamp examination)
- The doctor sees the initial clouding of the lens even when the vision is still preserved.
- This is the main method of diagnosing cataracts.
2. Visual acuity test
A slight loss of image contrast or clarity may be the first sign.
3. Ophthalmoscopy
- Allows to assess the transparency of the eye environment and the state of the retina.
- If the lens begins to fade - it is already noticeable in the light.
4. Contrast sensitivity testing
Allows you to detect a decrease in the quality of vision, which is not yet noticeable during normal reading from the table.
5. Subjective complaints of photophobia or blinding at night
If the patient complains that at night the headlights of cars blind more than before, this is an early functional symptom.

When to check?
Age of the person Frequency of preventive examination
Up to 40 years 1 time in 2-3 years
40-60 years 1 time in 1-2 years
After 60 years Every year

People with diabetes, eye injuries, or who use corticosteroids should be checked more often, even without complaints.

To check if there is a cataract, you need to consult an ophthalmologist who will conduct special examinations. It is impossible to independently determine cataracts in the early stages - only a doctor can accurately diagnose.

How to check for cataracts in the clinic:
Slit lamp inspection (biomicroscopy)
- The main method!
- Allows the doctor to examine the lens under a microscope and detect even a slight haze.
Visual acuity test
Using tables for vision (for example, Sivtsev). If vision decreases, it may be a sign of cataracts.
Ophthalmoscopy
The doctor examines the fundus through the pupil to check the transparency of the lens and the condition of the retina.
Test for sensitivity to contrast and light
- Determines how the patient sees in bright or dim light.
- Patients with cataracts often have blinding at night (for example, from the headlights of cars).
Tonometry (measurement of intraocular pressure)
Not directly related to cataracts, but often performed together to rule out other diseases (e.g. glaucoma).

Signs for which you should consult an ophthalmologist:
- Fogging or "haze" before the eyes
- Feeling like glasses "no longer help"
- Increased sensitivity to light
- Change the color of the image
- Doubling in one eye
It is recommended to undergo an eye examination annually after 60 years, or more often - if there are risk factors.

Cataract develops gradually, and its symptoms often go unnoticed in the early stages. The main reason for the manifestations is the clouding of the lens, which disrupts the passage of light into the eye.

The main manifestations of cataracts:
1. Gradual blurred vision
- The image becomes like "in the fog," "misted glass."
- Especially noticeable when reading or working with small details.
2. Decreased visual acuity
- A person sees worse both in the distance and up close.
- Glasses help worse.
3. Photophobia, blinding from bright light
In the evening, the headlights of a car or the sun dazzle more than before.
4. Appearance of halos around light sources
Evening or night light seems scattered, with "halos" around the lamps, headlights.
5. Image doubling (in one eye)
Even without glasses, a person sees "two" contours of an object.
6. Changing the perception of colors
Colors fade, turn yellow, blue become less noticeable.
7. Frequent change of glasses
The patient complains that "the old ones do not fit," but the new ones do not give a clear vision.

IMPORTANT:
Cataracts do not cause pain, do not cause redness or discharge from the eye - that is why many people go to the doctor at a late stage, when vision has deteriorated significantly.

THE only effective way to treat cataracts is to surgically remove the cloudy lens and replace it with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL). No drops, pills or glasses can cure cataracts or stop its development.

Modern methods of cataract treatment:
1. Phacoemulsification (the most common and effective method)
- The cloudy lens is sonicated and removed through a small incision.
- A flexible artificial lens (IOL) is inserted through the same hole.
- The operation takes 10-20 minutes, painless, without hospitalization, is performed under local anesthesia (drops).

Advantages:
• Low traumatic
• Rapid vision recovery (1-2 days)
• Without seams
• Modern lenses can be implanted: monofocal, multifocal, toric (for astigmatism correction)
2. Femtosecond laser surgery
• Improved version of phacoemulsification.
• Incisions and some stages of the operation are performed by the laser, which increases accuracy and safety.
• Often used in premium surgery (with multifocal IOLs, etc.).

Other methods:
Drug treatment:
Eye drops, vitamins (for example, "Quinax," "Taufon") are sometimes prescribed in the early stages, but they do not cure, but only temporarily improve the metabolism in the lens.

Glasses:
Help only temporarily improve vision at the initial stage of cataracts, when clouding is still insignificant.

SUMMARIZE:
Surgery is the only method that really restores vision in cataracts.
The earlier the cataract is detected, the easier and safer it is to remove it.

Yes, cataracts can be cured, but the only effective way is surgical intervention, that is, removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL).

What does it mean to "cure" cataracts?
• After surgery, vision is restored - often even better than before the development of cataracts.
• The success of the operation - more than 95-98% of cases.
• Cataracts do not "grow" again, because instead of a natural lens, an artificial one is inserted.

IMPORTANT:
• Drops, vitamins, tablets - do not treat cataracts, only temporarily slow down its development.
• Glasses can help a little in the early stages, but eventually become ineffective.
• Only surgery can completely eliminate the cause of visual impairment - a cloudy lens.

Do I need surgery right away?
Not always. The doctor may advise to wait if:
• cataracts do not yet significantly affect the quality of life;
• vision sufficient for everyday needs.

But if:
• vision deteriorates;
• difficult to drive, read, work - the operation is recommended.

SUMMARIZE:
So, cataract is treated completely - surgically.
After surgery, a person can again clearly see, and in some cases even refuse glasses.