Cataracts: Causes, Types, and Prevention

A cataract is a clouding that occurs in part or all of the lens of the eye. This will decrease vision, as clouding the eye's lens will cause light to not be refracted properly.

Cataracts in the eye can be caused by several factors, namely, age/degenerative factors; high UV exposure to the eyes; being a tropical country with the sun shining all year round (Indonesia has a relatively large number of cataract sufferers); drug abuse/supplements, especially steroids; systemic disease (diabetes mellitus) and other eye diseases (uveitis); blunt and sharp trauma or accidents to the eye; previous eye surgery; other unknown factors such as congenital cataracts (congenital abnormalities).

Common symptoms of cataracts include blurred or cloudy vision that is not visible at all, sensitive eyes to light or glare, frequent changes to eyeglass or contact lens prescriptions, glare in bright areas, and clearer vision in dimly lit rooms. Blurred vision or double vision 

If cataracts are not treated, they can interfere with quality of life. Driving can be affected, which can be dangerous and also a danger to others. Many people become blind from untreated cataracts, and cataracts can even lead to total blindness if left untreated for a long time. In addition, in some people, it can also cause inflammation in the eye or glaucoma.

Surgery to treat cataracts is the only proven way to remove cataracts by removing the opaque lens and replacing it with a new lens. This procedure is safe and very effective. Cataract surgery involves two phases, namely removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an intraocular lens or implanted lens.

At Hermina Arcamanik Hospital, cataract surgery uses a phacoemulsification technique with local anesthesia. The patient is usually given a sedative to make the operation comfortable. Anaesthetic drops and local anesthetic are injected around the eye. Phacoemulsification is the process of destroying cataracts by using ultrasound power with a needle the size of a ballpoint pen that vibrates 40,000 times per second. The shattered lens is filled with water and aspirated out. Finally, an implanted lens or intraocular lens is inserted. The operation is completed in 15–30 minutes.

The advantages of the phacoemulsification technique include faster recovery so that patients can return to normal activities and smaller incisions than those used in conventional surgery.

If a person has cataracts and blurred vision that makes it difficult to do anything, it is time to consider cataract surgery. Surgery on each eye is performed on separate days, but often at one or two-week intervals. This approach allows the first eye to recover and your vision in that eye to stabilize before surgery is performed on the other eye. It will take a few days to a few weeks to stabilize after cataract surgery. The doctor will prescribe glasses just 4 weeks after surgery. While waiting those 4 weeks, you can put on your old glasses, although you may realize your vision isn't ideal.

That's what you need to know about cataract surgery. If you or someone close to you notices symptoms of cataracts, immediately make an appointment with an ophthalmologist at Hermina Arcamanik Hospital.