OPHTHALMIC CONDITIONS
Cataract
Blurred vision
What exactly is a cataract?
Cataract is one of the most common eye conditions, primarily associated with normal aging (age – related cataract). In fact, cataract refers to the clouding of the natural crystalline lens of the eye, which is located behind the iris. Light rays pass through this lens, which is clear in normal conditions, to ultimately reach the retina (the posterior layer of the eye). Over time, the crystalline lens loses its original composition – clarity and becomes cloudy, which inevitably leads to blurred vision. The average age when cataract significantly impact vision is between 65 and 70 years, however this does not mean that it cannot appear earlier or later. In rare cases, the natural crystalline lens may become cloudy from a young age (congenital cataract).
What are the main symptoms of cataract?
The most common symptoms associated with cataract that affect daily activities of patients include the following:
Blurry and dim vision
Reduced color perception (fading)
Decreased contrast sensitivity (CS)
Glare or reflection around objects
How is cataract treated?
The only effective treatment for cataract is surgical intervention, with phacoemulsification procedure using ultrasound without general anesthesia the most widely known and successful technique nowadays. During the surgical operation, the cloudy natural crystalline lens is fragmented (destroyed), aspirated, and replaced with an artificial lens, known as an intraocular lens (implant).
In which cases should surgery not be delayed?
As cataract progresses, the natural crystalline lens becomes not only cloudier but also harder. This means that the difficulty of the surgical procedure increases. Therefore, in certain conditions (e.g., diabetes, some forms of glaucoma, pseudoexfoliation syndrome), it is decided to perform cataract surgery earlier so as to avoid intraoperative complexity.
Ophthalmic
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Refractive
Laser Surgery
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