What Is Cataract?

Cataract is the opacity of the lens by losing its transparency. The eye has an optical structure and the images coming from the external environment are first refracted through the cornea, which is the transparent layer on the outermost part of the eye, and then through the lens layer inside the eye, and thus it is clearly transmitted to the visual center. It causes the images to be blurred and not transmitted to the center of vision clearly by adding the lens formed in the lens. Sometimes cataracts become so intense that people cannot see anything except to feel the light.

People who develop cataracts see it as if they are looking through a misty or frosted glass. Although there are many types of cataracts, the most common cataracts are cataracts that develop with age. 

What are the Cataract types?

• Nuclear cataracts:A nuclear cataract may at first cause a temporary improvement in your vision. But with time, the lens gradually turns more densely yellow and further clouds your vision.

As the cataract slowly progresses, the lens may turn brown. These can lead to difficulty distinguishing between shades of color.

• Cortical cataracts:A cortical cataract begins as whitish, wedge-shaped opacities or streaks on the outer edge of the lens cortex. As it slowly progresses, the streaks extend to the center and interfere with light passing through the center of the lens.
• Posterior Subcapsular Cataracts:A posterior subcapsular cataract starts as a small, opaque area that usually forms near the back of the lens, right in the path of light. A posterior subcapsular cataract often interferes with your reading vision, reduces your vision in bright light, and causes glare or halos around lights at night. These types of cataracts tend to progress faster than other types do.
• Congenital Cataracts: Some people are born with cataracts or develop them during childhood. These cataracts may be genetic, or associated with an intrauterine infection or trauma.

These cataracts also may be due to certain conditions, such as myotonic dystrophy, galactosemia, neurofibromatosis type 2 or rubella. Congenital cataracts don’t always affect vision, but if they do they’re usually removed soon after detection.

Risk factors

Ultraviolet rays are one of the most important risk factors, although there is no known cause. With the opacity of the lens, patients first complain of distant or near visual impairment. As the dullness increases, the deterioration in vision becomes a situation that will affect the daily life of the people.

Some factors increase the risk of cataracts;

• Increasing age
• Diabetes
• Excessive exposure to sunlight
• Smoking
• Obesity
• High blood pressure
• Previous eye injury or inflammation
• Previous eye surgery
• Prolonged use of corticosteroid medications
• Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol

Cataract symptoms:

• Progressively decreased vision
• Blur in the image and fading in colors
• Difficulty reading or temporarily seeing better in some people
• Deterioration of night vision
• Double vision

Cataract Surgery

Cataracts have no medical treatment other than surgery, that is, it is not possible to treat them with medication or glasses. The operation is performed by removing the matted eye lens and replacing a new artificial eye lens. Today, the most advanced surgery applied for cataracts is Phaco (Phacoemulsification) surgery. The Phaco device separates cataracts into very small pieces in the eye with the help of sound waves vibrating 40,000 times per second, and thanks to this, these materials are taken out of the eye with this device, which is entered through a very small incision. After the cataract is cleaned, the artificial lens made with advanced technology is placed inside the eye. Thanks to this method, the operation time is very short. This surgery is performed only with a drop that is dropped into the eye.

Lenses that are placed in the eye during cataract surgery are generally single-focus. With these single-focus lenses, you can only see clear either close or far. Therefore, you will have to wear glasses after surgery.

Thanks to the multifocal lenses (smart lenses) that have manufactored recently, patients can see both far and close area clearly and therefore they do not need to use glasses. Thanks to these smart lenses, patient’s quality of life is greatly improved. These lenses can be attached to all patients who do not have any problems in their retina and cornea.

After the operation, the patients are discharged immediately and they should use eye drops for a short time like a month.

What is a multifocal (Smart) lens?

These lenses are commonly referred to as trifocal lenses. With cataract surgery, both myopia, hyperopia and even astigmatism can be treated. Smart lenses can be used not only in people with cataracts, but also as an alternative to eye relief surgeries with excimer laser. This surgical method can be applied in people whose corneas are not suitable for laser operation or who have very high degree eye disorder. Thus, patients can get rid of glasses and get a good vision far and close.

Prevention

There is no way to prevent cataract or slow the progression. But several strategies may be helpful;

• Have regular eye examinations.
• Stop smoking.
• Manage your other health problems.
• Choose a balanced and healthy diet.
• Wear sunglasses.
• Reduce alcohol consumption