Cataracts are eye disorders that require a proper diagnosis and treatment, and they occur on a large scale amongst older people. Various diseases like diabetes and Wilson’s disease are associated with cataracts. Cataract symptoms, causes, and treatments are explained further below.
Meaning And Definition Of Cataracts
As we read earlier, cataracts are one of the eye ailments. In this disease, a person’s eyesight gets more and more cloudy over time and can even lead to complete blindness if not treated properly. Most people do not get diagnosed with the disorder in earlier stages, leading to further complications.
Causes Of Cataracts
There are different causes of cataracts amongst other age groups. Categories of cataracts are congenital cataracts, juvenile cataracts, and senile cataracts. Hereditary cataracts can occur due to abnormalities that are genetic. Juvenile cataracts occur amongst children and adolescents. Senile cataracts arise in the case of people who are above the age of fifty. Other causes of cataracts include prolonged exposure to UV rays, smoking cigarettes, or tobacco consumption. In the event of eye injury, a person can be at risk of cataracts.
Symptoms Of Cataracts
Cataracts are the most common amongst people who belong to the age group of 40-50 years. Cataract symptoms (ต้อกระจก อาการ, which is the term in Thai) are divided into four stages. In the first stage, the cornea of the eye begins to change. In the second stage, it becomes a little bit cloudy. In the third stage, the cataract becomes a little grayer. In the last step, it is highly murky, and the person may not be able to see anything.
How Are Cataracts Treated?
Cataracts are treated by performing surgery. In the initial stages, performing the surgery is comparatively more manageable than in the latter stages. In the last step, the process of surgery can be highly complicated and can even cause glaucoma. There are specific non-surgical methods suggested by ophthalmologists, but they only work in the earlier stages.
Different surgeries treat cataracts depending on their stage and the complications involved. The names of the surgeries are as follows:
- Ultrasound phacoemulsification
- ECCE: Extracapsular Extraction
- ICCE: Intracapsular Cataract Extraction
Conclusion
Everything to know about cataracts is listed above. Cataract symptoms can be a little hard to detect as one may confuse it for just eye strain. But visiting your ophthalmologist at regular intervals and getting a check-up done is essential for ensuring excellent eye health.
