Cataract is a disease characterized by impairment of the lens of the eye which leads to progressive loss of vision and can occur throughout life or soon after birth and is called a congenital cataract.
The main cause of this disease is aging of the lens, which is why it is very frequent in the elderly population, but can be caused by secondary factors such as diabetes, indiscriminate use of eye drops or drugs with corticosteroids, strokes, eye infection and smoking. Cataracts have a cure, however, surgery should be performed as soon as a diagnosis is made to avoid total vision impairment.
Main symptoms
The main symptoms of cataracts are:
- Decreased vision;
- Blurry vision;
- Increased sensitivity to light;
- Changing the color vision;
- Change in eye color.
These symptoms may appear together or separated and should be evaluated by an ophthalmologist for diagnosis and appropriate treatment can be established.
Causes of cataract
The main cause of cataracts is the aging of the body because the lens of the eye begins to become thicker and the body is less able to nourish this organ. However there are other causes, such as:
- Excessive sun exposure;
- Blows in the eye;
- Diabetes or hypothyroidism;
- Infections and inflammatory processes;
- Glaucoma, myopia or ocular surgery;
- Excessive use of drugs or alcohol;
- Fetal malformations;
Depending on the cause, cataracts may be considered acquired or congenital, but congenital are very rare and usually appear in individuals with the same case in the family.
How is the surgery done
Surgery is the only alternative for cataract and does not depend on the age of the person, but rather on the degree of impairment of vision, which can be made for both congenital and acquired cataract.
Cataract surgery is done by removing the lens from the eye, replacing it with an ocular lens that decreases vision changes. Usually the surgery lasts about 30 minutes, does not cause pain and patients can return to their normal activities the next day. Understand how cataract surgery is done.
Congenital cataract
The congenital cataract corresponds to a malformation of the lens during the development of the baby, and can affect one or both eyes. Congenital cataracts can easily be diagnosed right after birth, even in the maternity ward, through the test of the little eye. Once the diagnosis is made, it is important to perform the surgery as soon as possible to avoid total impairment of vision or other eye problems during growth. Learn more about congenital cataract.
