Eye diseases such as cataracts, glaucoma, and retinal disorders are some of the causes of blindness. However, among several eye diseases, cataracts are the main cause of blindness in a person. This is further exacerbated by the increasing life expectations of society in the world, which means that the elderly population suffering from cataracts will also increase.
However, cataracts do not only affect the elderly. In fact, all people of all ages can experience cataracts due to several factors such as infection, diabetes, trauma, ultraviolet light, to metabolic disorders. There are even some cases where newborns have cataracts.
Cataracts are a condition in which the lens of the eye becomes cloudy or cloudy. In our eyes, the eye lens functions as a tool to focus light that enters from the pupil to the retina. If the eye lens is cloudy and cloudy, vision will automatically be disturbed and the patient must immediately go to the doctor to carry out cataract surgery.
Various complaints of cataract sufferers include:
- Glare when looking at the light
- Blurred vision as if covered by smoke
- Cloudy vision
- The views are doubled
If the symptoms are as above and are not treated as soon as possible with surgery, the cataract formation process will continue and get worse until it reaches the point where the eye lens causes high eyeball pressure and leads to blindness. A common cause of cataracts is aging or trauma that causes changes in the eye tissue. However, there are also several other factors that cause cataracts, namely infection during pregnancy, taking certain drugs for a long time, eye disorders, long exposure to ultraviolet light, smoking and consuming alcohol, and exposure to poisons.
Various studies have proven that cataracts are not hereditary. In addition, certain diseases such as diabetes do not actually cause a person to develop cataracts, although diabetes can indeed speed up the rate of cataract formation. In cases like this, patients are advised to check in advance for diabetes disorders they are experiencing before carrying out cataract surgery procedures.
The various types of cataracts include:
- Nuclear cataract: A type of cataract that forms in the center of the lens. This type of cataract is most often found in the elderly.
- Cortical cataract: A type of cataract that occurs on the outer edge of the lens or in the area known as the cortex.
- Subcapsular cataracts: There are 2 types of subcapsular cataracts, namely posterior and anterior. Posterior subcapsular cataracts form in the area behind the lens while anterior subcapsular cataracts are located in front of the lens.
- Congenital cataract: Congenital cataract is a type of cataract that is formed from birth or during childhood.
- Traumatic cataracts: Traumatic cataracts can develop when there is an injury to the eyeball, for example due to exposure to heat, chemicals, or getting a rock splinter into the eye.
The way we can do to prevent cataracts is to protect our eyes from exposure to ultraviolet light as best we can, check the condition of our eyes regularly, regulate our diet, avoid smoking and alcoholic beverages, and keep our eyes clean.
Those are some things you need to know about cataracts. If you experience some of the symptoms of a cataract sufferer, get yourself checked immediately so you can treat it before it's too late. You can also consult with dr. Fadjar SN. Soebali, Sp.M (Eye Specialist Doctor at EMC Tangerang Hospital) to get the right treatment. Come on, take care of the important assets we have for a higher quality life in the future! #LiveExcellently
Article written by dr. Fadjar SN. Soebali, Sp.M (Eye Specialist Doctor at EMC Tangerang Hospital).