Cataract
1. What is Cataract?
Lens in the eyes work like a camera which help to refract light to be foused on the retina. A cataract is a clouding of lens leading to a vision impairment on patients.
2. Causes of Cataract
- Aging
- Genetic
- Metabolic disease, such as diabetes
- Medications, such as corticosteroids
- Trauma
- Eye diseases, such as glaucoma
3. Symptoms of Cataract
- Blurry vision
- Reduction of sensitivity of luminosity and colour
- Fear of lights
- Frequent changes of spectacles
4. Treatments of Cataract
Surgery is the only effective way to remove cataract. Early stage of cataract may be improved with eyeglasses. Cataract surgery can be performed at any stage of cataract upon the clinical examination by ophthalmlogist and does not require ripening of lens.
Q: Can cataract be spontaneously recovered? Are there any consequences if delay the treatment?
A: Cataract cannot be recovered spontaneously. If the treatment is delayed, it may result in poor visual which will lower the quality of life. Cataracts may cause other eye diseases or even blindness.
5. Phacoemulsification
- “Phacoemulsificaton” is widely used in cataract surgery. Due to small incision size, patients can recover more quickly.
- Patients can choose among different kinds of intraocular lens after consulting the ophthalmologist.
- Surgery consists of two parts:
1) Phacoemulsification
2) Artificial lens implantation
- Allow local anesthesia under surgery
- Surgery can be finished in 30 minutes
6. Things to do before surgery
- Maintain a healthy and balanced diet
- Tell your medical history to the ophthalmologist, such as high-blood pressure, diabetes and heart disease etc.
- Maintain a good personal hygiene
7. Things not to do after surgery
- Do not remove the eye patch or rub the eyes
- Should bend at the knees to pick up things
- Avoid heavy lifting / straining
- Do not get bathwater in your eye
- Use the medications as instructed by ophthalmologist
8. Will complications occur after surgery?
- Complications after cataract surgery are relatively uncommon.
- Should maintain good personal hygiene to aviod infection
- Should consult an ophthalmologist if complications occur, such as loss of vision, bleeding, double vision and infection etc.
