Cataract - Reclaim Your Vision!

A cataract usually forms in the eyes due to clouding of the naturally clear lens. It is mostly age-related.

Cataracts can be categorized on the basis of where and how they develop in the eye. This categorization is based on location:

1. Nuclear Cataract: These develop in the middle of the lens and turn the centre of the eye yellow. Nuclear cataracts are typically associated with ageing.
2. Cortical cataract: These develop around the edges of the nucleus and are wedge-shaped. Gradually, spokes emitted from these wedges work themselves towards the centre of the eye.
3. Posterior capsular cataract: These are among faster-growing cataracts and develop at the back of the lens. They are also known as subcapsular cataracts. Cataracts triggered by diabetes or the prolonged use of steroids usually fall in this category.

Symptoms:

1. In the beginning, cataract affects a small portion of your eye and affects your vision.
2. Your vision gradually gets blurred.
3. Too much exposure to the light might cause glare.
4. In nuclear cataract, you may notice a short-lived improvement of your near vision.
5. In subcapsular cataract, you cannot notice any symptoms in the initial days.

Cause of cataract:
The lens inside our eyes acts like a camera and it is made of protein and water. The protein helps in keeping the lens clear. But with aging, the protein may start to form a lump, which causes cloudiness in the eye area. With time the cataract spreads all over the lens and creates more cloudiness, which ultimately leads to blindness. The factors which usually trigger cataract are

1. Age
2. UV rays from sunlight
3. Obesity
4. Hypertension
5. Smoking
6. Consumption of high dosage steroids medicines
7. Statin medicines
8. History of eye inflammation or any eye injury
9. History of eye surgery
10. Too much consumption of alcohol
11. Hormone replacement therapy
12. Family history of cataract

Procedure: Once the cataract forms the treatment is mostly surgical. The most common technique is phacoemulsification. During surgery, the cloudy lens is replaced by an artificial lens(Intraocular lens or IOL). Various types of IOLs are available such as monofocal, multifocal, extended depth of focus, toric, etc depending on the patient's need.

Benefits of this procedure:

• No hospitalization required
• Smaller incision
• No bandages
• Minimal precautions
• No restriction on normal activities
• Fast recovery 

Improved Vision: With the help of the new lens, the patient will now enjoy better vision and a visible decline in the symptoms of the cataract including problems in night driving.

Convenient: This procedure usually takes about an hour and is an outpatient procedure. It is a completely safe procedure where numbing drops are placed on the eye so as to reduce any pain significantly. The doctor will usually give you a novocaine injection around the eye. Also, cataracts from both eyes will not be removed on the same day, and the doctor will schedule you for cataract removal from the second eye for another day.

Aftermath: After the surgery is over, it is normal to feel some amount of irritation in the eye. If this irritation is persistent, you must see a doctor about it.

Painkillers like acetaminophen and ibuprofen can be used to recover from the pain after the surgery. Ask your doctor about other measures.