Cataract is the clouding in the eye lens as we age up. These clouds develop slowly and over time may cause full blindness to patient. So the treatment of cataract is necessary as soon as possible. As cataract increases, the vision of eye lessens, because the cloud stops the light to pass through the lens and reach the retina. Cataracts are divided into four categories on the basis of its cause – Radiation, secondary, congenital and traumatic cataracts.
Different types of cataracts
- Secondary cataract: These are cataracts that are formed after surgery due to glaucoma, due to diabetes or due to use of some steroids.
- Traumatic cataract: cataract caused by an eye injury.
- Congenital cataract: Some cataracts can be genetic and children may be born with small cataracts. But they don’t affect the vision, and if they do then the eye lens should be replaced as soon as possible.
- Radiation cataract: Exposure to radiation can also cause cataract.
Symptoms of cataracts
- Yellowing or fading of colors
- Halos or glowing around the light
- Double vision in only one eye
- Less or no vision at night
- Eyes become sensitive to bright light
- Dimmed or blurred vision
- Frequent changes in corrective lenses
Surgical treatments for cataracts
If you have any of the aforementioned symptoms then reach your doctor for a test and confirmation of cataract. There is only one treatment available currently for cataract, and that is to replace the affected lens surgically. This surgery is done under a local anesthetic. In surgery doctors replace the affected lens with an artificial lens called intraocular lens (IOL). Patient recovers from the surgery in one day but antibiotic and anti-inflammatory eye drops need to be used for two weeks after the surgery.
After the surgery, in the initial weeks, avoid bending or exercising, heavy lifts, dirt and grime that may enter in eye and don’t splash water into eyes.
Complications after surgery
The complications after the surgery are rare but the patient may suffer from glaucoma, a severe eye infection called endophthalmitis or a detached retina. If you are noticing any pain, redness or inflammation in the affected eye then the surgeon should be contacted immediately to diagnose the cause and treat it.
Around 95% of these surgeries are successful and patients show improvement in vision after the surgery. The rate of complication is very low during these surgeries.