What are the causes of cataracts?

What is cataract and what are the causes of cataract formation?

Cataracts, also known as cataracts, are a condition that involves clouding of the lens of the eye. The clouding of the lens results from the natural processes of ageing, so it most commonly affects the elderly. This is why cataracts are also called senile cataracts. Senile cataracts are one of the most common causes of sight loss worldwide. The risk of cataracts is highest in people in the 50+ age group.

Obniżenia ostrości wzroku zarówno przy dobrym, jak i słabym oświetleniu to pierwsze objawy zaćmy, które mogą zauważyć pacjenci. Często dostrzegają też double vision lub postrzeganie kółek wokół źródeł światła. As the disease progresses, the lens becomes increasingly cloudy, leading to further deterioration of vision and, in extreme cases, even complete loss of vision. With impaired visual acuity, the comfort of life decreases significantly, so it makes sense to opt for cataract surgery before the condition deteriorates significantly. However, not every cataract is the same.

There are different types of cataracts, which can be classified on the basis of various factors, such as the cause of onset, the location of the lens changes and the severity of the disease.

Nuclear cataract

It is characterised by opacification of the lens nucleus. This change is uniform, discernible by the characteristic yellow or brown colouring of the lens. With this type of condition comes a deterioration in visual acuity, myopia refrakcyjna, a także pogorszenie ostrości widzenia i problem z głębią widzianych kolorów. Chorując na zaćmę jądrową, można zapisać się na operację zaćmy

Cortical cataract

In this case, the individual layers around the lens nucleus become opacified, this is known as the lens cortex. How does this type of cataract manifest itself? In the areas where opacification occurs, a splitting effect and non-uniform refraction of light occur simultaneously. Importantly, the opacity of the lens does not affect visual acuity. It is often unaffected by the changes because the central part of the lens remains functional.

Cortical-nuclear cataract

A combination of nuclear and cortical cataracts also appears among the types of cataracts. Both contain the aforementioned characteristics, which in combination result in simultaneous refraction of light in an unnatural way and a significant deterioration of the visual acuity due to the location of the cataract in the nuclear part of the lens.

Posterior subcapsular cataract

It is manifested by opacities located under the posterior lens capsule appearing in the centre of the visual axis. It is the most common type of cataract and also the most rapidly progressive.

This type of condition can also occur as a result of trauma to the eye, inflammation of the uvea, which can lead to a significant deterioration in the quality of vision.

In addition to the reasons mentioned for the formation of this type of cataract, taking certain medications, e.g. long-term use of corticosteroids, and in the case of patients at a young age who have been diagnosed with myopia or diabetes, can also be another reason.

Risk factors that may cause cataracts

• Diabetes.
• Medications (glucocorticosteroids, amiodarone, allopurinol).
• Substitutes (cigarettes, alcohol).
• Infrared, UV radiation.
• Hypertension
• Chronic eye diseases
• Injuries
• Long-term use of steroid medication

Treatments for cataracts

Cataract removal is difficult, but not impossible. Cataract development is a slow and inevitable process, but fortunately it is a reversible condition. Modern medicine offers effective cataract treatments to restore visual acuity. Leczenie zaćmy polega na usunięciu zmętniałej soczewki i zastąpieniu jej sztuczną, jest najczęściej stosowanym i najbardziej efektywnym rozwiązaniem. Jest to jedyny sposób na całkowite usunięcie zaćmy. Undergoing cataract surgery can lead to complete withdrawal of the condition.

Surgical treatment is currently the only and effective option to eliminate cataracts. The indication for surgery is primarily deterioration of vision. Cataract surgery can be performed at any age, even in the case of total loss of vision.

This procedure is performed regardless of age and involves removing the lens clouded by the condition and replacing it with an artificial intraocular lens. under droplet anaesthesia administered directly into the conjunctival sac so that the patient does not experience pain during the procedure. At the same time, the person being operated on will be aware of the actions performed by the doctor through contact with him or her.

Even after surgery, it is important to monitor your vision and visit your ophthalmologist regularly to ensure that your artificial lens is functioning properly and to detect any problems at an early stage.

The operation takes several minutes and the time spent in hospital afterwards is only a few hours.

Recovery time after surgery - indications

• During the first 3 weeks, it is recommended to avoid physical exercise.
• The dressing applied immediately after the operation should be worn until the follow-up visit to the doctor.
• Do not rub or apply pressure to the operated eye.
• Until the new powers are stored in the corrective glasses, you can use the ones you used before the treatment.