Cataract is a disease characterized by the involvement of the lens of the eye, which leads to progressive loss of vision and can happen throughout life or shortly after birth, being called congenital cataract.
The main cause of this disease is the aging of the lens, which is why it is very common in the elderly population, but it can be caused by secondary factors, such as diabetes, indiscriminate use of eye drops or medications with corticosteroids, strokes, eye infection and smoking. Cataracts are curable, but surgery should be performed as soon as the diagnosis is made to avoid total vision impairment.
Main symptoms
The main symptoms of cataracts are:
- Decreased vision; Blurred vision; Increased sensitivity to light; Change in color vision; Change in eye color.
These symptoms can appear together or separately, and must be evaluated by an ophthalmologist in order to make the diagnosis and the appropriate treatment can be established.
Causes of cataracts
The main cause of cataracts is the aging of the body, because the lens of the eye begins to become thicker and the body is less able to nourish this organ. However, there are other causes, such as:
- Excessive exposure to the sun; Blows to the eye; Diabetes or hypothyroidism; Infections and inflammatory processes; Glaucoma in crisis, pathological myopia or previous eye surgery; Excessive use of drugs; Fetal malformations.
Depending on the cause, cataracts can be considered acquired or congenital, but congenital ones are very rare and usually appear in individuals with the same case in the family.
How is the surgery done
Surgery is the only alternative for cataracts and does not depend on the person's age, but on the degree of impaired vision, and can be done for both congenital and acquired cataracts.
Cataract surgery is performed by removing the lens from the eye, replacing it with an ocular lens that reduces vision changes. Generally, the surgery lasts about 30 minutes, it does not cause pain and patients can return to their activities with a certain amount of time. Understand how cataract surgery is done.
Congenital cataract
Congenital cataracts correspond to a malformation of the lens during the baby's development, affecting one or both eyes. Congenital cataracts can be suspected right after birth, still in the maternity ward, through the eye test. Once the diagnosis is made, it is important to perform the surgery as soon as possible to avoid total vision impairment or other eye problems during growth. Learn more about congenital cataracts.
