Cataracts is a common condition affecting the eye that causes clouding of the lens. Cataract Treatment from medical professional advised as it can last several months or years. Cataract develops when proteins in the eye form clumps, preventing normal movement of light through the eye, to the retina. The lens becomes cloudy, and objects appear blurry, hazy, or faded in colour. Cataracts get worse over time, so you’ll eventually need surgery to remove and replace the affected lens. Surgery is the only treatment that’s proven to be effective for cataracts.
Some Symptoms For Cataracts include:
- Clouded or blurred vision
- Double vision
- Difficulty in seeing during the night
- Sensitivity to light and glare
- Need for brighter than normal light to read or see objects
- Seeing halo around lights
- Seeing objects in faded or yellow colour
- Eye pain
- Headache due to changes in vision
To determine whether you have a cataract, your doctor will review your medical history and symptoms, and perform an eye examination. Your doctor may conduct several tests, including:
- Visual acuity test. A visual acuity test uses an eye chart to measure how well you can read a series of letters. Your eyes are tested one at a time, while the other eye is covered. Using a chart or a viewing device with progressively smaller letters, your eye doctor determines if you have 20/20 vision or if your vision shows signs of impairment.
- Slit-lamp examination. A slit lamp allows your eye doctor to see the structures at the front of your eye under magnification. The microscope is called a slit lamp because it uses an intense line of light, a slit, to illuminate your cornea, iris, lens, and the space between your iris and cornea. The slit allows your doctor to view these structures in small sections, which makes it easier to detect any tiny abnormalities.
- Retinal exam. To prepare for a retinal exam, your eye doctor puts drops in your eyes to open your pupils wide (dilate). This makes it easier to examine the back of your eyes (retina). Using a slit lamp or a special device called an ophthalmoscope, your eye doctor can examine your lens for signs of a cataract.
What Happens During Cataract Surgery?
Cataract surgery involves removing the clouded lens and replacing it with a clear artificial lens. The artificial lens is positioned in the same place as your natural lens. It remains a permanent part of your eye. For some people, other eye problems prohibit the use of an artificial lens. In these situations, once the cataract is removed, vision may be corrected with eyeglasses or contact lenses. Your eye doctor uses local anesthetic to numb the area around your eye, but you usually stay awake during the procedure. Cataract surgery is generally safe, but it carries a risk of infection and bleeding. Cataract surgery increases the risk of retinal detachment. After the procedure, you’ll have some discomfort for a few days. Healing generally occurs within eight weeks. If you need cataract surgery in both eyes, your doctor will schedule surgery to remove the cataract in the second eye after you’ve healed from the first surgery.
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