yulius hermanto
Brief about Cataract
Introduction
Before talking about cataract, we should look at eye problems first. Talking about eye problems, we should look at eye main function that is for vision.
Decreasing of visual acuity is main concern of eye function, Blindness is form ocular mortality since the eye is non-functioning.
Blindness is the inability to see. Blindness not only causes the problems for the person himself/herself but also family, and society. Blindness makes a person lost his/her capabilities and chances to work. Thus makes them become more dependent to the others.
Cataract is the world leading cause of blindness, thus the concern about proper cataract management is being emphasized.
Cataract
Cataract is opacity of the crystalline lens of the eye. Cataract has become common eye problem that affects millions of people, thus it has the potential to cause decreased vision as aging process. Most cataracts occurs in patient are related to aging process. Therefore, cataracts are very common in elderly. Approximately 75 percent of population over 75 suffer from lens opacity or cataract, which is the major cause of poor vision and blindness in the world.
The commonest form of cataract that is mainly found in ages more than 45 is named age-related or senile cataract. It should be mentioned that cataract surgery is the commonest case of surgery in the field of ophthalmology.
Around 50 millions people in the world suffer from age-related cataract and its prevalence in developing countries is much more than the developed ones. Annual new cases of cataract in India is 4 millions, and more than one million cataract surgeries are done annually in United States of America, although the accurate number of those suffering from cataract might be unknown. Much cost is spent on cataract surgery each year to prevent disabilities and improve quality of life, making it difficult for the health system to carry on.
There are many types of Cataracts. They may be characterized by their severity (i.e. partial or total, incipient, mature, hypermature), tendency to progress ( i.e. progressive or stationary) and location (i.e. anterior, posterior, cortical, nuclear).
Aging Crystalline Lens
One of the often seen consequences of the aging process is the development of senile cataract, a disease that affects one of our most precious gifts, that of sight.
For the importance of cataract, research for clarifying its etiology is a necessity, so that many future disabilities can be prevented, surgical costs reduced and quality of life improved. Multiple mechanisms such as osmotic graduation, protein aggregates, oxidative stress, post translational protein changes, phase separation are proposed for cataract formation, though the exact mechanism is not known yet. Combined factors of heritage, UV light exposure, diet, some metabolic disorders, quality of life, cationic pump malfunction and lens metabolism disorder are believed to have a role in cataract formation.
In simple explaination, as we age, some of the protein may clump together and start to cloud a small area of the lens. This is a cataract. Over time, the cataract may grow larger and cloud more of the lens, making it harder to see.
Cataracts Risk Factors
Age
By far the greatest risk factor for developing a Cataract is age. It is estimated that by age 65, approximately 50% of our United States population has developed some degree of clouding of the Crystalline Lens of their eye. The degree of clouding can be minimal and not really disturb vision or it can be significant and require treatment.
Diabetes
Researchers believe that since Diabetes is associated with an elevation of sugar in the blood, or hyperglycemia, and impaired glucose metabolism, it is possible that the byproducts of the faulty glucose metabolism may accumulate within the eye and cause the Crystalline Lens to become cloudy and form a Cataract.
Eye Injury and Inflammation
An eye injury or eye trauma give a greater risk of developing a Cataract. Both a blunt trauma to the eye and a penetrating trauma to the eye can cause the formation of Cataracts. Inflammation inside the eye, called Iritis, that can be caused by trauma as well some type of systemic disease such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Disease or Herpes Zoster (Shingles), also increases the risk of Cataract development.
Steroid Usage
Steroid use is well documented to increase the risk of forming a Cataract. For many years it was believed that the main culprit in steroids causing Cataract development were the prolonged use of a high dose of oral steroid medication.
Excessive Sunlight Exposure
It has been well documented that excessive exposure to sunlight can increase your risk of developing Cataracts. This is particularly true if you have daily repeated exposure as a result of your work or recreational activities.
Smoking
Smoking is believed to cause the formation of free radicals throughout the body and it is these free radicals that are potentially linked to Cataract formation. In addition, smoking may deprive the Crystalline Lens on the necessary nutrients, minerals and vitamins required for the proteins in the Crystalline Lens to maintain their integrity and thus their clarity.
Well, those are several risk factors of developing cataracts, thus by identifying those risk factors, you could do cataract prevention and be more aware of cataract. Eventhough cataracts doesn't kill us, but cataracts do impair our quality of life.
The most common symptoms of a cataract are:
- Cloudy or blurry vision.
- Colors seem faded.
- Glare. Headlights, lamps, or sunlight may appear too bright. A halo may appear around lights.
- Poor night vision.
- Double vision or multiple images in one eye.
- Frequent prescription changes in your eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Cataracts Diagnosis
Cataracts are diagnosed by first listening to the patient’s symptoms and then through careful examination. Examination for Cataracts most commonly includes the testing of visual acuity, refraction, dilating the pupils and observation with the slit lamp biomicroscope. In some cases glare testing may be used to help understand the degree of visual disability that a Cataract is actually causing the patient to experience.
About cataract treatment modalities especially surgical procedure, i'm gonna discuss it in my next article.
Before talking about cataract, we should look at eye problems first. Talking about eye problems, we should look at eye main function that is for vision.
Decreasing of visual acuity is main concern of eye function, Blindness is form ocular mortality since the eye is non-functioning.
Blindness is the inability to see. Blindness not only causes the problems for the person himself/herself but also family, and society. Blindness makes a person lost his/her capabilities and chances to work. Thus makes them become more dependent to the others.
Cataract is the world leading cause of blindness, thus the concern about proper cataract management is being emphasized.
Cataract
Cataract is opacity of the crystalline lens of the eye. Cataract has become common eye problem that affects millions of people, thus it has the potential to cause decreased vision as aging process. Most cataracts occurs in patient are related to aging process. Therefore, cataracts are very common in elderly. Approximately 75 percent of population over 75 suffer from lens opacity or cataract, which is the major cause of poor vision and blindness in the world.
The commonest form of cataract that is mainly found in ages more than 45 is named age-related or senile cataract. It should be mentioned that cataract surgery is the commonest case of surgery in the field of ophthalmology.
Around 50 millions people in the world suffer from age-related cataract and its prevalence in developing countries is much more than the developed ones. Annual new cases of cataract in India is 4 millions, and more than one million cataract surgeries are done annually in United States of America, although the accurate number of those suffering from cataract might be unknown. Much cost is spent on cataract surgery each year to prevent disabilities and improve quality of life, making it difficult for the health system to carry on.
There are many types of Cataracts. They may be characterized by their severity (i.e. partial or total, incipient, mature, hypermature), tendency to progress ( i.e. progressive or stationary) and location (i.e. anterior, posterior, cortical, nuclear).
Aging Crystalline Lens
One of the often seen consequences of the aging process is the development of senile cataract, a disease that affects one of our most precious gifts, that of sight.
For the importance of cataract, research for clarifying its etiology is a necessity, so that many future disabilities can be prevented, surgical costs reduced and quality of life improved. Multiple mechanisms such as osmotic graduation, protein aggregates, oxidative stress, post translational protein changes, phase separation are proposed for cataract formation, though the exact mechanism is not known yet. Combined factors of heritage, UV light exposure, diet, some metabolic disorders, quality of life, cationic pump malfunction and lens metabolism disorder are believed to have a role in cataract formation.
Cataract Eyes
In simple explaination, as we age, some of the protein may clump together and start to cloud a small area of the lens. This is a cataract. Over time, the cataract may grow larger and cloud more of the lens, making it harder to see.
Cataracts Risk Factors
Age
By far the greatest risk factor for developing a Cataract is age. It is estimated that by age 65, approximately 50% of our United States population has developed some degree of clouding of the Crystalline Lens of their eye. The degree of clouding can be minimal and not really disturb vision or it can be significant and require treatment.
Diabetes
Researchers believe that since Diabetes is associated with an elevation of sugar in the blood, or hyperglycemia, and impaired glucose metabolism, it is possible that the byproducts of the faulty glucose metabolism may accumulate within the eye and cause the Crystalline Lens to become cloudy and form a Cataract.
Eye Injury and Inflammation
An eye injury or eye trauma give a greater risk of developing a Cataract. Both a blunt trauma to the eye and a penetrating trauma to the eye can cause the formation of Cataracts. Inflammation inside the eye, called Iritis, that can be caused by trauma as well some type of systemic disease such as Rheumatoid Arthritis, Disease or Herpes Zoster (Shingles), also increases the risk of Cataract development.
Steroid Usage
Steroid use is well documented to increase the risk of forming a Cataract. For many years it was believed that the main culprit in steroids causing Cataract development were the prolonged use of a high dose of oral steroid medication.
Excessive Sunlight Exposure
It has been well documented that excessive exposure to sunlight can increase your risk of developing Cataracts. This is particularly true if you have daily repeated exposure as a result of your work or recreational activities.
Smoking
Smoking is believed to cause the formation of free radicals throughout the body and it is these free radicals that are potentially linked to Cataract formation. In addition, smoking may deprive the Crystalline Lens on the necessary nutrients, minerals and vitamins required for the proteins in the Crystalline Lens to maintain their integrity and thus their clarity.
Well, those are several risk factors of developing cataracts, thus by identifying those risk factors, you could do cataract prevention and be more aware of cataract. Eventhough cataracts doesn't kill us, but cataracts do impair our quality of life.
The most common symptoms of a cataract are:
- Cloudy or blurry vision.
- Colors seem faded.
- Glare. Headlights, lamps, or sunlight may appear too bright. A halo may appear around lights.
- Poor night vision.
- Double vision or multiple images in one eye.
- Frequent prescription changes in your eyeglasses or contact lenses.
Vision in Cataract Patients
Cataracts Diagnosis
Cataracts are diagnosed by first listening to the patient’s symptoms and then through careful examination. Examination for Cataracts most commonly includes the testing of visual acuity, refraction, dilating the pupils and observation with the slit lamp biomicroscope. In some cases glare testing may be used to help understand the degree of visual disability that a Cataract is actually causing the patient to experience.
About cataract treatment modalities especially surgical procedure, i'm gonna discuss it in my next article.
