Things to Know about Cataracts and Some Prevention Tips

BY Jeffrey Meier

Cataract is a condition in which the eye lens becomes progressively opaque. In the initial stage, the crystalline lens may be increased causing myopia and soon accumulation of brown pigment within the lens may reduce the perception of blue colors. Slowly the cataracts will cause loss of vision and one can become blind completely if it’s not given timely treatment. Another fatal cause is that the cataract cortex sometimes liquefies to form a milky white fluid in a morgagnian cataract, leading to severe inflammation when lens capsule ruptures and leaks, causing phacomorphic glaucoma. Varied reasons are given for the formation of cataracts. Some are caused due to exposure to ultraviolet rays, effects of diseases like diabetes, advanced age when the lens gets weakened, genetic factors and eye injuries.

Types of cataracts

• Age-related cataract

• Immature Senile Cataract which leads to partially opaque lens and disc view is hazy.

• Mature Senile Cataract has completely opaque lens.

• Hyper mature Senile Cataract has liquefied cortical matter:

• Congenital cataract

• Sutural cataract

• Lamellar cataract

• Zonular cataract

• Total cataract

• Secondary cataract

• Drug-induced cataract

• Traumatic cataract and

• Blunt trauma Penetrating trauma which has capsular rupture and leakage of lens material.

Treatment:

Surgery is considered the most effective treatment for the removal of cataract. One type of cataract surgery is the Extra-capsular surgery which removes the affected lens only, leaving the majority of the lens capsule intact. The other surgical removal of the cataract is Intra-capsular surgery which removes the entire lens of the eye. This surgery replaces the cataractous lens with a permanent plastic lens.

Due to its low cost and also its affinity, polymethylmethacrylate PMMA is widely used to replace the cataract lens. A softer and more expensive one is the silicon acrylate which can be folded and inserted into the eye through a smaller incision. It’s specially recommended for those with a history of uvetus or at risky stage of retinal detachment. There is also the latest approved multifocal intraocular lens implants which enables most post operative cataract patients the advantage of glass free vision and they are costly too, can rise up to $1500 per eye. But then one’s eye is very precious, it’s worth the amount spent indeed.

For cataract operations, one needs only a day. In fact the patient can leave for home the same day itself. Although yes, risk cases arise only after the surgery’s done. Cases such as thickening and clouding of the lens capsule are common, though it can be quickly corrected using a laser. Well, retinal detachment is another complication of cataract surgery with those patients of extreme myopia.

Prevention:

• Protecting the eye from ultra violet rays by using good sunglasses, which will to an extent reduce the development of cataracts.

• Regular intake of antioxidants like vitamin C and E.

• Stalin’s also have a stable ability to reduce lipids; especially its oxidative quality is useful in the development of nuclear cataracts, which is an age related cataract.

Jeffrey Meier of Jam727 Enterprises at http://www.Jam727.com offers health information and articles on a wide variety of topics.

Article Source: http://EzineArticles.com/?expert=Jeffrey_Meier