Cataracts inevitably lead to blindness. But today it is not a sentence - after a short, painless operation called phacoemulsification, you can not only regain your eyesight, but also improve the quality of vision.
Although some forms of cataracts may be congenital or develop as a result of various diseases, more than 90 percent cases areage-related cataract . Progressive cloudinessof the eye lensis a natural manifestation of aging. Most often, even before the age of fifty, the current biochemical and osmotic balance, necessary to maintain the transparency of the lens, begins to change. Protein metabolism is disturbed and their synthesis slows down, the lens loses its elasticity and transparency, preventing the access of light to the inside of the eyeball. This process may take from several months to several years. And its effects?
Cataract covers eyes with mist
Initially, they are not so annoying - the image is simply less clear and the eyes tire faster. But visual acuity continues to deteriorate, both near and far, and it cannot be corrected with anyglasses . Other symptoms of a progressive cataract depend on the location of the cloudiness in the lens. It may be the appearance of circular fringes around light sources, a change in color perception (red and orange colors become dominant) or an improvement in close-up or evening vision. In general, however, the image becomes more and more blurry, out of focus, and finally it becomes possible to distinguish only day from night.
Cataract surgery, i.e. replacing a cloudy lens with an artificial one
For an active and working person, the loss of visual acuity is a big problem, so it is worth starting treatment quickly. Just as it is impossible to avoid cataracts - there is no prophylaxis here, there is also no conservative method of its treatment - changes in the solubility of the lens proteins and clouding are irreversible. You can buy drops that are designed to improve the nourishment of the lens and delay adverse changes in it, but there is no evidence that they really work. Therefore, the only effective therapy is the surgical replacement of the natural, but opaque, lens with an artificial one. And it is not worth delaying this decision. In the past, due to the technique of surgery, people waited untilcataracts “mature”, ie all layers of the lens become opaque; current methods make it possible to operate cataracts at an early stage, thanks to which the world quickly regains its sharpness and color.
ImportantGood to see again
The world regains its sharpness and color the very next day after removing the dressing. Depending on which lens has been implanted, you may even see better than before surgery. The National He alth Fund refunds treatments which use single vision lenses. Most patients after such surgery no longer need glasses for long-distance viewing, but have to wear them when reading. You can also opt for lenses that allow you to see well near and far, and even eliminate astigmatism. Unfortunately, you have to pay for them out of your own pocket (4-6 thousand PLN). But it is worth remembering that this is a lifetime investment, because the cataract that is removed does not come back
Phacoemulsification or liquid emulsification
The method commonly used today is phacoemulsification. A probe is inserted through a small incision in the cornea (2-3 mm) and the lens is broken using ultrasound and then drained from the eye. Another method used in the initial, the so-called In soft cataracts, there is fluid emulsification - the lens is broken and rinsed out with a pressurized stream of fluid. The latest cataract removal devices allow for a combination of both methods, and thus for a very effective and safe operation.
After removing the opaque lens through the same incision, an artificial collapsible is inserted, which immediately takes the correct shape. No sutures are required as the wound closes by itself under the influence of intraocular pressure. The procedure takes only 10-20 minutes and can be performed on an outpatient basis, usually after local anesthesia of the eye with drops. For several nights after the operation, you need to protect the eye with a special plastic cover.
The use of local anesthesia and the development of minimally invasive surgical techniques allow the procedure to be performed also in patients who were not able to do it a few years ago (due to systemic diseases, e.g. e.g. diabetes, high blood pressure).
Cataracts usually appear in both eyes, although it often develops faster in one. Ophthalmologists never operate on both eyes at the same time. It's all about safety - although postoperative complications are very rare, they do happen.
"Zdrowie" monthly