Cataracts - when does the procedure need to be repeated?

Wśród pytań i wątpliwości naszych pacjentów często pojawia się zagadnienie trwałości efektów laserowej korekcji. Czy wystarczy raz przeprowadzić taką operację, by na zawsze pożegnać się z okularami i soczewkami? Czy po pewnym czasie wada wzroku nie powróci? Czy zaćma wraca? Jakie jest ryzyko wystąpienia wady wtórnej? Jak dokładnie wygląda leczenie zaćmy? Odpowiadamy na wszystkie z tych pytań!

Secondary cataract - does treatment need to be repeated? Secondary cataract surgery

W większości przypadków laserowa korekcja wykonywana jest tylko raz, a jej rezultaty są trwałe – nie wymagają żadnych poprawek ani powtórek. Odsetek osób, u których po pewnym czasie (np. po kilku lub kilkunastu latach po operacji usunięcia cataracts) następuje nawrót choroby, wynosi zaledwie ok. 5%. Jednak i ta liczba systematycznie maleje dzięki coraz nowocześniejszym technologiom, które zwiększają precyzję i leczenie metodą LASIK. Pacjenci zmagający się z zaćmą wtórną, podczas której dochodzi do usunięcia zmętniałej soczewki, poddają się ponownej operacji. Czy zaćma wtórna może się powtórzyć? Tak, jest to możliwe. W takim przypadku konieczne jest usunięcie zaćmy wtórnej drogą operacyjną. Podczas operacji usuwana jest zmętniała soczewka oka.

However, secondary cataract is not exactly the same as primary cataract. Secondary cataracts can be said to be a complication of surgery, although there are other factors that can contribute to its occurrence. Cataracts themselves are one of the most common eye diseases, so the risk of secondary cataracts occurring among such people is quite high. During cataract surgery, the surgeon leaves the lens capsule intact. Without disturbing the lens capsule of the eye, the cloudy natural lens is removed and replaced with an artificial lens. During secondary cataract surgery, the surgeon makes a small hole in the posterior lens capsule. This procedure is called a posterior capsulotomy.

Secondary cataracts should be treated as soon as possible, as untreated cataracts can lead to further complications. Despite the technology available, there is always a risk that a secondary cataract may occur even after a correctly performed procedure. Can a secondary cataract recur? Removal of a secondary cataract is not a guarantee that the defect will not recur. Patients with cataracts struggle with problems such as:

• blurred vision,
• image blur,
• changing the colour of the image,
• reduction in focus,
• double vision.

A jakie są objawy zaćmy wtórnej? Są one podobne do objawów występujących w przypadku zaćmy pierwotnej, spowodowanej zmętnieniem soczewki oka. Pacjenci, których dotyka zaćma wtórna zauważają pogorszenie ostrości wzroku, mają trudności z widzeniem w nocy. Występuje u nich zjawisko double vision czy zaburzenia widzenia kolorów.

Causes of secondary cataract

Niezależnie od tego, czy zmagamy się z wadą widzenia od dzieciństwa, czy zawsze cieszyliśmy się sokolim wzrokiem, typowe leczenie tego nie zatrzyma – w pewnym wieku i tak prawdopodobnie będziemy potrzebować okularów do czytania. Wynika to po prostu ze z procesu starzenia się organizmu i zmniejszenia elastyczności soczewki. Zjawisko polegające na osłabieniu akomodacji oka, a co za tym idzie – powodujące problem z widzeniem z bliska, to presbiopia, zwana także starczowzrocznością. Zmętnienie torebki soczewki jest w tym wypadku najczęstsze.

Why does secondary cataract form? Causes of secondary cataract formation

The appearance of secondary cataracts can occur a few weeks after cataract surgery, but most often they do not appear until several years after cataract surgery. Much depends on individual conditions, such as age, eye condition or genetic factors. However, even if the eye defect reappears, it is usually so slight that repeated laser correction is not necessary.

A second reason for the appearance of a secondary defect is an improperly performed cataract extraction procedure, which may have led to multiple lesions in the posterior lens capsule or caused an internal infection of the eye. Various metabolic ailments, which include diabetes or hypothyroidism, may also be the cause of recurrence. Secondary cataracts also happen to people suffering from:

• atopic dermatitis,
• myopia,
• congenital defects of the retina or eyeball.

Recurrence of the defect can also be caused by any ocular trauma, infection, improperly fitted lenses, ocular inflammation, congenital retinal defects and direct factors unrelated to the properly performed laser cataract surgery. The factors for cataract recurrence are many, and in many cases treatment of secondary cataracts is even mandatory. These symptoms should not be taken lightly, but should be seen by a specialist as soon as possible to check what is causing the deterioration of vision.

Cataract removal - choose professional secondary cataract treatment

An effective method of treating recurrent cataracts is surgery - but repeat cataract surgery looks slightly different from the traditional one. A special laser is used, which cuts through the opaque structures inside the eyes on which it is focused. This procedure is called capsulotomy, which is characterised by its low invasiveness, as well as high safety and, above all, highest efficiency for the patient. You have no reason to worry! The laser procedure at Blikpol is short and completely painless, because the patient's eye is anaesthetised - in no time at all, every patient will see an improvement in visual acuity. How long do eyes take to heal after cataract surgery? It all depends on the individual case. Usually, an improvement in vision can be seen even just a few hours after the operation. However, in order to fully recover, the eyes need up to several weeks, during which the patient will notice an improvement in vision. After the operation, patients receive instructions from their doctors so that they know what to prepare for and how to proceed after the operation. Most often, patients need to use eye drops. They should also avoid touching or rubbing their eyes, and avoid physical activity so as not to increase pressure in the eyeball. Any symptoms such as redness, burning or itching of the eyes are best consulted with a doctor to check the cause of the symptoms.

Secondary cataract laser - recommendations after surgery

During cataract surgery, the patient's pupil is constantly dilated with special eye drops, so it is not advisable to come to the surgery as a car driver. Afterwards, the patient uses anti-inflammatory drops for about 10 days. On the day of surgery, the patient should not do any extra exercise or heavier physical work, as this could result in a recurrence of the defect and the formation of a secondary cataract. After the operation, patients should be under the care of a doctor and have regular check-ups to check for the chance of developing secondary cataracts.

Secondary cataracts - get rid of secondary cataracts for good!

Recurrent cataract surgery is something you should opt for. It is your only means of protection against recurrent cataracts. Did you know that cataracts with artificial lens implantation have been operated on since the 1980s of the previous century? The amount of lens capsule opacification has continued to decrease since then. The risk of secondary cataract treatment was initially in 50% operated eyes. The current risk is 5-10%. To ensure that you do not have to have cataract surgery again after cataract surgery, it is important to follow all instructions and take special care of your eyes and consult your doctor about any adverse symptoms.