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Any opacity or cloudiness that develops in the crystalline lens of the eyes is considered as cataracts. Cataracts are not formed in the eyes; they are formed within the eyes. Most people would think that a cataract is a film that grows on the eyes, which causes unclear images or sometimes double vision.
The eye lens is enclosed in a capsule. As the old cells die, it gets trapped inside the capsule. As time passes, the cell will gradually build up causing the eye lens to cloud, thus making images hazy and undistinguished. This is one of the major causes of visual loss among adults who are over 55 in the whole world.
Learn More about Cataract Symptoms
Cataracts are small at first, and have a very small effect of your sight at first. Its first symptom is blurred vision. The symptoms depend on the location of the cataract on the lens and the cloudiness of the cataract.
The most common symptoms are blurred visions, fading color, poor night vision and sensitivity to bright lights. The type of cataract will also determine what symptoms you will be experiencing.
Nuclear cataract's first symptom is the improvement of your near vision. However this improvement will be short-lived and finally will disappear as the cataract deteriorates. Subcapsular cataracts do not have any symptoms until it has fully developed.
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Causes
Experts say that as we age, the eye lens changes, forming cataracts. Experts are progressively distinguishing the factors that cause cataracts. Studies show that too much exposure to ultraviolet light
is connected with the development of cataracts.
They suggest that wearing sunglasses or wide brimmed hats will minimize the exposure to ultraviolet light. Further studies also show that individuals who are diabetic or are users of major tranquilizers, diuretics and steroids tend to be at high risk of developing cataracts.
Smoking, air pollution and alcohol abuse are also incorporated in the risk factors. Eating foods that are rich in salt puts you on high risk of cataract development too.
Treatment
Diets high in antioxidants (beta-carotene, selenium and vitamin C and vitamin E) help prevent cataract development. If symptoms start to show, you may be able to enhance your eyesight with appropriate lighting, glasses, magnifying glass, strong bifocals and other visual aids.
If your vision deteriorates badly and impairs your daily activities such as reading, working or driving, you should consider having your cataract removed by surgery.
Cataract surgery is the most efficient way of restoring your vision. In fact, cataract surgery is one of the most successful surgery procedures in the United States. An average of nine out of ten patients who undergo cataract surgery regain a very good vision. There are two types of cataract surgery procedures - the phacoemulsification and the extracapsular surgery. Ask your ophthalmologist what type of cataract surgery procedure that would be best for you.
Cataratas
Cualquier opacidad y turbidez que se desarrolla en el cristalino de los ojos se consideran como las cataratas. Las cataratas no se forman en los ojos. Que se forma dentro de los ojos. Mucha gente puede pensar que una catarata es una película que crece en los ojos que hace que las imágenes poco claras o, a veces visión doble.
El lente del ojo está encerrado en una cápsula. Como las células viejas mueren, es atrapado dentro de la cápsula. Conforme pasa el tiempo las células con el tiempo se acumulan haciendo que el lente del ojo a la nube, con lo que las imágenes confusas y mediocres. Es una de las principales causas de pérdida de visión entre los adultos que tienen más de 55 en todo el mundo.
Sintomas:
Las cataratas en un principio son pequeños, se tiene un efecto muy pequeño de la vista en un primer momento.
Los síntomas más comunes son visiones borrosas, los colores parecen aparecer atenuados, mala visión nocturna y la sensibilidad a las luces brillantes. El tipo de catarata también afectará a los síntomas que se experimentan.
Síntoma de cataratas nucleares de primera es la mejora de la visión de cerca. Sin embargo, esta mejora será de corta duración y, finalmente, va a desaparecer cuando la catarata se deteriora. Catarata subcapsular no tienen ningún síntoma hasta que se haya desarrollado.
Causas:
Los expertos dicen que a medida que la edad de los cambios en el cristalino del ojo, formación de cataratas. Los expertos están cada vez distinguiendo los factores que causan las cataratas. Muestra los estudios, la exposición que demasiado a la luz ultravioleta está relacionada con el desarrollo de cataratas.
Se recomienda que el uso de gafas de sol o un sombrero de ala ancha reducirá al mínimo la exposición de luz ultravioleta. Otros estudios también muestran que las personas que son diabéticos y los usuarios de tranquilizantes, diuréticos y esteroides tienden a estar en alto riesgo de desarrollar cataratas.
Fumar, la contaminación del aire y el abuso del alcohol también se han incorporado en los factores de riesgo. Comer alimentos que son ricos en sal que pone en alto riesgo de desarrollo de cataratas.
Tratamiento:
Las dietas ricas en antioxidantes (beta-caroteno, selenio y la vitamina C y vitamina E) ayuda a prevenir el desarrollo de cataratas. Si los síntomas empiezan a mostrar que puede ser capaz de mejorar su vista con la iluminación apropiada, anteojos, una lupa, lentes bifocales fuertes y otras ayudas visuales.
Si su visión se deteriora y perjudica gravemente las actividades diarias como leer, trabajar o conducir, usted debe considerar la posibilidad de su catarata extirparse mediante cirugía.
La cirugía de cataratas es la forma más eficaz de restaurar su visión. De hecho, la cirugía de cataratas es uno de los procedimientos de cirugía mayor éxito en los Estados Unidos. Una media o nueve de cada diez pacientes que se someten a cirugía de cataratas a recuperar con una visión muy buena.
Glaucoma
Glaucoma is an eye condition that develops when too much fluid pressure builds up inside the eye. The condition tends to be inherited and may not show up until later in life.
The increased pressure, called intraocular pressure, can damage the optic nerve, which transmits images to the brain. If damage to the optic nerve from high eye pressure continues, glaucoma will cause loss of vision. Without treatment, glaucoma could even cause total permanent blindness within a few years.
Because most people with glaucoma have no early symptoms or pain from this increased pressure, it is important to see your ophthalmologist regularly so that glaucoma can be diagnosed and treated before long-term visual loss occurs.
Open-angle glaucoma - Also called wide-angle glaucoma, this is the most common type of glaucoma. The structures of the eye appear normal, but fluid in the eye does not flow properly through the drain of the eye, called the trabecular meshwork.
What are the symptoms of glaucoma?
For most people, there are usually few or no symptoms of glaucoma. The first sign of glaucoma is often the loss of peripheral or side vision, which can go unnoticed until late in the disease. Detecting glaucoma early is one reason you should have a complete exam with an eye specialist every one to two years. Occasionally, intraocular pressure can rise to severe levels. In these cases, sudden eye pain, headache, blurred vision, or the appearance of halos around lights may occur.
If you have any of the following symptoms, seek immediate medical care:
- Seeing halos around lights
- Vision loss
- Redness in the eye
- Eye that looks hazy (particularly in infants)
- Nausea or vomiting
- Pain in the eye
- Narrowing of vision (tunnel vision)
How is glaucoma treated?
Glaucoma treatment may include prescription eye drops, laser, or microsurgery.
Eye drops for glaucoma - These either reduce the formation of fluid in the front of the eye or increase its outflow. Side effects of glaucoma drops may include allergy, redness of the eyes, brief stinging, blurred vision, and irritated eyes. Some glaucoma drugs may affect the heart and lungs. Be sure to tell your doctor about any other medications you are currently taking or are allergic to.
Laser surgery for glaucoma - Laser surgery for glaucoma slightly increases the outflow of the fluid from the eye in open-angle glaucoma or eliminates fluid blockage in angle-closure glaucoma. Types of laser surgery for glaucoma include trabeculoplasty, in which a laser is used to pull open the trabecular meshwork drainage area; iridotomy, in which a tiny hole is made in the iris, allowing the fluid to flow more freely; and cyclophotocoagulation, in which a laser beam treats areas of the ciliary body, reducing the production of fluid.
Microsurgery for glaucoma - In an operation called a trabeculectomy, a new channel is created to drain the fluid, thereby reducing intraocular pressure that causes glaucoma. Sometimes this form of glaucoma surgery fails and must be redone. For some patients,
a glaucoma implant is the best option. Other complications of microsurgery for glaucoma include some temporary or permanent loss of vision, as well as bleeding or infection.
Open-angle glaucoma is most commonly treated with various combinations of eye drops, laser trabeculoplasty, and microsurgery. Traditionally in the U.S., medications are used first, but there is increasing evidence that some people with glaucoma may respond better with early laser surgery or microsurgery.
Infant or congenital glaucoma -- meaning you are born with it -- is primarily treated with surgery since the cause of the problem is a very distorted drainage system. Glaucoma cannot be prevented, but if it is diagnosed and treated early, the disease can be controlled.