Don't underestimate cataracts

Cataracts are cloudiness in the lens of the eye so that light cannot penetrate; this results in blurry vision leading to blindness (according to the degree of thickness or thinness of the cataract or cloudy lens).

Cataracts can occur in both eyes (bilateral) or only one eye (unilateral). Cataracts that occur in old age usually occur bilaterally (both eyes are affected), but often the level of turbidity is different (one eye's lens is more cloudy), so that sufferers usually complain more in one eye, which is more blurry.

The risk factors for cataracts are:

1. smoking;
2. an increase in age;
3. the use of steroid drugs (taken orally and as eye drops);
4. a family history of cataracts (genetic)
5. Diabetes;
6. high cholesterol;
7. obesity;
8. excessive alcohol consumption;
9. excessive sun exposure 

Symptoms of cataracts that usually occur are:

1. The vision started to get blurry and foggy. Cataracts make the lens of the eye even more cloudy, thus blocking light from entering the eye, and the retina also has difficulty forming shadows. This is because there is protein clumping that goes hand in hand with age. The lens of the eye when we are children is clear in color, and over time the protein of the eye coagulates, thus interfering with the vision process, and finally the shadow that is formed is shrouded in fog.
2. Easy Glare. The eyes will look very sensitive to outside light. especially the blinding light. because the visual system finds it difficult to sort and control light.
3. can only see normally with enough light. Those of you who have cataracts really need enough lighting to see. The eyes are not able to work properly in dim light. because the light is not strong enough to penetrate the cloudy lens. Also, do not use excessively bright lighting. because the light is too dazzling.
4. visible on all objects that are seen by the eyes of the sufferer. The object seen is doubled because the image formed is not perfect. The focus becomes blurred, so the image formed on the retina becomes double.
5. Change your lenses or glasses on a regular basis. Those of you who have cataracts initially only feel that you have minus or plus eyes, so you buy concave or convex glasses. The longer it takes, the worse the myopia becomes, so it is assumed that the eyes are getting worse or better. Even though this is an indication that the cloudy lens of the eye is getting thicker.
6. Color fading Cataracts also make the object's color fade because the cloudy lens makes the original color look younger. Usually, if the sufferer focuses on the color of an object for too long, what appears to be red is actually yellow because the retinal veins have turned yellow.
7. Chaotic vision at night Cataracts make it very difficult to read or see objects at night because at night the focus of the eyes becomes less, and not only cataracts but most eye diseases also experience problems at night.
8. Distracted by dark light Cataract sufferers are very disturbed by the lack of intensity of light; they need sufficient lighting when reading something because the light is used to penetrate the cloudiness of the eyes.

Actually, cloudiness in the lens (cataracts) is a natural occurrence that cannot be avoided due to the aging process, just as the skin will wrinkle or the hair will turn gray. Turbidity has been observed in the lens since the age of 40, indicating that the aging process in the eye cannot be avoided. However, depending on the degree of cloudiness and the patient's symptoms, not all cataracts will be operated on. 

Long-term use of steroid drugs in certain conditions, such as uncontrolled diabetics, can cause early lens opacities (cataracts), so lifestyle modification can be avoided to prevent early lens opacities (cataracts). the use of eye drops carelessly, without a doctor's prescription, or without the supervision of an ophthalmologist, because in some eye drops there is a steroid content that, if used arbitrarily or not controlled by an ophthalmologist, can have the side effect of faster cataract formation and other eye diseases such as glaucoma (high pressure in the eyeball that can cause blindness).

Cataracts can also occur in newborns (congenital cataracts) due to disturbances in the formation of the eye lens in the process of fetal development, which begins in the fourth week (first trimester) of the process of forming the fetal eye. If the mother has an infection (most often rubella), or smokes or consumes any alcohol that interferes with the process of forming organs in the fetus, it will interfere with the function of the organs.

To treat cataracts, the ophthalmologist will first assess the patient's visual acuity in conditions where the cataract is still thin. If the visual acuity is still good, no invasive measures are needed; just observation is enough. If the patient already has vision problems, the ophthalmologist will first assess whether, with help such as glasses, his visual acuity can improve. If visual acuity improves, the ophthalmologist will prescribe glasses with vitamins for the patient's eyes. If visual acuity is greatly reduced or disturbed and does not improve with glasses without being accompanied by other eye diseases or disorders, cataract surgery, cataract removal surgery with the installation of new lenses (artificial or intraocular) as a substitute for cloudy lenses, can be performed. 

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