Causes, symptoms and prevention of cataracts, eye drops

What are cataractsCauses Types Signs and symptoms Congenital cataracts Diagnosis Treatment methodsMyths about cataractsVideos about cataracts

Cataract is a disease associated with clouding of the lens of the eye, which can lead to complete loss of vision.

A healthy lens has a transparent structure and acts as a natural lens that transmits light rays, focusing them on the retina. As soon as the lens loses its transparency, its transmission capacity is weakened and a person’s vision deteriorates.

How is the disease diagnosed, its first symptoms, for what reasons does eye cataract occur, why is it dangerous due to its progression, leading to a complete loss of visual function. Timely treatment of cataracts and accurate diagnosis in the early stages of the disease can avoid serious consequences and preserve vision.

What is a cataract?

Although most people have heard the concept of cataract, not everyone knows what it is. This pathology is a clouding of the lens, which gradually reduces the quality of vision and, in the absence of proper treatment, ends in a complete loss of visual function. The eye lens is the organ responsible for focusing light rays onto the retina of the eye. Essentially, it is a lens placed between the iris of the eye and the vitreous body, which transmits and refracts light rays. In a young body, the lens, as a rule, has an elastic and transparent structure; it easily changes its shape under the control of the eye muscles, freely “adjusting” the desired sharpness, thanks to which the eyes see well at any distance. With age, the lens becomes denser, less elastic and loses transparency. This state of cloudiness is called a cataract. It can be partial or complete, depending on how much of the eye lens is opaque. A clouded organ transmits light rays into the eye worse and interferes with their correct refraction and focusing. As a result, the patient's visual sharpness decreases, the contours of the objects in question seem blurry, indistinct, and there is a feeling of a “veil” before the eyes. Cataracts gradually develop and can lead to complete loss of vision.

The name of the pathology itself comes from the Greek word, which translated means “waterfall” or “spray of a waterfall.” This name well explains the main symptom of the disease - blurred vision, when a person sees surrounding objects unclearly, as if through a stream of water.

Useful video

The following videos provide useful information about complicated cataracts:

Complicated cataract is a dangerous eye disease that can lead to complete and irreversible loss of vision. Timely diagnosis allows timely treatment to begin. Modern methods of treating complicated cataracts do not cause complications and guarantee the preservation of vision and normal life.

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Congenital cataract

Cataracts of the eye can be congenital or acquired. Congenital lens opacity, according to doctors, accounts for over 50% of all congenital eye defects and is considered one of the main causes of poor vision and blindness in young children. Depending on how many eyes are affected by this pathology, it can be bilateral or unilateral. Based on the location of the turbidity, it is divided into several types:

• layered - is the most common, affects several layers of the lens from the core to the periphery, and always has a significant impact on the quality of vision;
• nuclear - affects both eyes and is almost always hereditary, in most cases greatly reduces vision (up to 0.1);
• capsular - it is characterized by clouding of the posterior or anterior capsule of the lens; a decrease in visual acuity directly depends on the degree of clouding of the capsule. May occur in a child due to illness of the pregnant mother or intrauterine inflammation;
• polar - with this type of congenital cataract, opacification affects both eyes, spreading not only to the capsules, but also to the substance of the lens at the posterior or anterior pole. The effect on vision depends on the shape and size of the clouding;
• Complete cataracts, in which the clouding extends to the entire lens, are almost always bilateral. In this case, the child does not see anything, but may experience light sensations. Complete cataracts can develop in the womb or in the first weeks after birth. Often combined with strabismus, nystagmus, microphthalmos and other defects in the development of visual organs;
• Complicated cataracts occur due to severe diseases or infections (viral rubella, diabetes). Usually accompanied by other congenital malformations: deafness, heart disease, etc.

For children born with congenital lens opacity, doctors recommend surgical treatment as early as possible. If this is not done in a timely manner, the child may become blind for life.

Since in the first year of life the baby’s visual function is just developing, the eye with a cloudy lens becomes insensitive to the image, and light rays stop stimulating the retina. This is why, with an advanced form of congenital cataract, vision may not be restored even after surgery. To preserve visual function, ophthalmologists recommend removing the clouded lens within two months after birth. The main difference between congenital and acquired cataracts is the non-progressive form.

Treatment methods

Since lens opacification is an irreversible process, it can only be effectively eliminated surgically. Cataract removal is carried out using phacoemulsification. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis under local drip anesthesia and lasts about 20 minutes.

To achieve accurate results, phacoemulsification can be performed with a femtosecond laser.

During surgical treatment, a microincision is made in the cornea, through which a device is inserted for ultrasonic exposure to the lens tissue. Under the influence of ultrasound, the lens turns into an emulsion and, using the same instrument, is removed from the cabbage sac of the eye.

Then, through the same micro-incision, an intraocular lens is introduced, which is selected individually for the patient and can further correct visual acuity. To correct vision, you will need to install an IOL with corrective characteristics that are selected for the patient in accordance with the existing deviations in visual acuity. Multifocal IOLs are used to correct near and distance vision.

No stitches are required, so healing occurs naturally. The rehabilitation period is minimally reduced. After the operation, the patient goes home to recover. Complete rehabilitation takes about a month. During this period, you need to follow the doctor’s recommendations and do not skip follow-up examinations. For two weeks after surgery, you should avoid visiting swimming pools, protect your eyes from sunlight, and avoid overstraining your eyes by reading or watching TV for a long time. After complete recovery, you can return to your normal lifestyle without restrictions.

Acquired cataract

If clouding of the lens occurs during a person’s life, this form of the disease is called acquired. Its distinctive feature is constant progression. The types of cataracts in this case are determined by the causes of its occurrence. There are senile, traumatic, toxic and other forms of pathology. Based on the location of the clouding, acquired cataracts are divided into the following types:

• nuclear - it is characterized by a brown or yellow coloration of the central part of the eye lens. With this type of pathology, distant vision is more blurred than near vision;
• posterior subcapsular - with it, the clouding is localized on the posterior surface of the lens, often forming a plaque. A person with this type of cataract may complain of difficulty reading, a glowing effect;
• cortical - lens opacification has a radial shape and is localized in the peripheral zone of the lens. Such a lesion often occurs asymptomatically until it affects the central part of the organ.

The main factor in the successful treatment of acquired cataracts is timely detection of symptoms and early diagnosis.

Signs of cataracts

The first sign that allows a doctor to suspect a person has cataracts is the patient’s age over 60 years. In this case, the clinical picture has characteristic features. During examination, the ophthalmologist observes opacities that can be located in different parts of the eye: in the peripheral lobe of the lens, or opposite the pupil. The opacities are grayish in nature, sometimes with a white tint.

Depending on what type of cataract it is, the ophthalmologist will observe a varied clinical picture, accompanied by the following signs:

• An anterior cataract appears as a white spot with clearly defined boundaries. When it is slightly pushed forward and pointed, such a cataract is called anterior pyramidal.
• If the clouding is located at the posterior pole of the lens and is presented in the form of a round white ball, then it is said to be a posterior polar cataract.
• Central cataract is determined by such characteristics as: spherical appearance, location - center of the lens, diameter - 2 mm.
• A fusiform cataract can be judged by its shape. This clouding is presented in the form of a thin spindle, it is located along the entire length of the lens.
• Zonular congenital cataract has the appearance of a cloudy core with transparent layers.
• Cloudiness of the entire lens, liquefaction of its masses and further formation of a dense bag are signs of a dense soft cataract.
• Diabetic cataracts are characterized by the appearance of white opacities in the form of flakes. They are located over the entire surface of the lens, and changes in the iris often occur.
• Tetanic cataract is characterized by the same symptoms as its diabetic variety and is determined by the signs of the disease that caused it (hypofunction of the parathyroid glands).
• Toxic cataract most often manifests itself in the form of opacities located under the lens capsule, with subsequent spread to the cortical layers.
• Senile cataract has many symptoms and depends on the degree of progression of the disease: initial, swelling, mature and overripe.

These are the most common signs that allow us to characterize cataracts and attribute them to one type or another.

Causes of cataracts

Congenital lens opacity can have several causes:

• heredity;
• chromosomal or gene abnormality - cataracts often occur in children with Down, Marfan, Lowe, and Ehlers-Danlos syndromes;
• genetic changes in the structure of proteins that are responsible for the transparency of the lens;
• taking medications by a pregnant woman - in particular, the use of certain tetracycline antibiotics;
• infectious diseases of the mother during pregnancy - rubella, herpes, chickenpox, cytomegalovirus, measles, toxoplasmosis, polio, Epstein-Barr virus, etc.;
• systemic and chronic diseases of the mother - chronic infections, endocrine system disorders, diabetes mellitus;
• exposure to toxic substances on the fetus - alcohol, nicotine.

Acquired cataracts of the eye have causes not related to the woman’s pregnancy and intrauterine development of the fetus. All these reasons are conventionally divided into external and internal. Internal ones include those caused by age-related changes, the presence of diseases or metabolic disorders. External ones include those associated with traumatic, radiation and other external influences.

The main cause of cataracts is considered to be natural aging of the body. This process is inevitable and cannot be influenced. With age, the eye lens loses its elasticity and transparency, which contributes to the development of the disease. Other causes of cataracts include the following:

• eye injury - a cut, blow, chemical or thermal burn, puncture can lead to clouding of the lens at any age;
• diabetes mellitus - with this disease, cataracts develop very quickly in both eyes;
• prolonged exposure to ultraviolet radiation on the eyeball;
• taking corticosteroids;
• high myopia;
• glaucoma, retinal detachment and other ophthalmic pathologies that lead to metabolic disorders in the eye tissues.

Regardless of the cause of cataracts, the symptoms of the disease are often identical.

Forecast

If left untreated, cataracts lead to blindness. Usually this process takes decades, but in some cases (in the presence of aggravating factors) vision loss can develop rapidly, in just 1-2 years. A favorable prognosis is possible only with surgery. The outcome of surgical treatment is influenced by internal and external factors. Internal ones include:

• Patient's age – very elderly people may experience lower treatment results.
• The presence of ophthalmological diseases (glaucoma, retinal detachment, corneal dystrophy, severe myopia).
• Diseases of the endocrine system, metabolic disorders in the body.
• Tumors.
• Hypertonic disease.
• Autoimmune disorders.

External factors include:

• Poor nutrition, lack of vitamins and minerals.
• Eye injuries.
• Operations.

In general, the prognosis for cataract surgery is favorable. Complications occur only in 1-2% of cases.

Symptoms of cataracts

The main symptom of cataracts is cloudy, blurry vision. But the difficulty is that the clouding of the lens can have different sizes and different zones of localization, so you may not immediately detect signs of the disease. If cataracts affect the central part of the eye, then the symptoms of the disease appear most clearly: surrounding objects have blurred contours and look fuzzy and cloudy. In addition, in the dark, when the pupil is dilated, the patient sees better than in bright light and a constricted pupil. When cataracts are localized in the peripheral zone of the lens, a person may not notice a deterioration in the quality of vision for a long time, which complicates early diagnosis and does not allow timely treatment.

In addition to a blurred image, the following symptoms may indicate the development of cataracts:

• the pupil becomes white, yellow or gray;
• double vision occurs in the eyes (special attention should be paid to this symptom, because it is characteristic only of the early stage of the disease and allows for a timely diagnosis);
• blurry images cannot be corrected with contact lenses or glasses. A person sees poorly both closely located objects and those distant from him at a considerable distance;
• glare and flashes that often occur at night;
• progressive deterioration of vision;
• increased light sensitivity of the eyes at night and general deterioration of night vision. Any light source irritates the visual organs and seems excessively bright;
• the perception of colors is impaired, which seem paler than before. Violet and blue shades are the most difficult for the eyes to perceive;
• when looking at light sources, halos appear before the eyes;
• temporary improvement in visual acuity, which after a short period of time worsens again;
• Difficulties appear while reading and working with small details.

The following signs will help to suspect congenital cataracts in a newborn:

• the child does not fix his gaze on faces and objects;
• he has squint;
• the pupils are different in color and have spots on them;
• the baby behaves restlessly in bright light;
• the child constantly turns to the mother with the same side;
• the child's eye “twitches” vertically, horizontally or in a circular direction.

Any suspicion of cataracts in a child or adult should be a reason to consult a doctor for an accurate diagnosis.

Classification

Complicated cataracts first form at the back of the eye's lens, the lens. This is due to the fact that its posterior wall is not sufficiently protected by epithelial tissue. In this part, the so-called transfusion effect occurs.

Then it increases and transforms into yellow opacities. At the same time, visual acuity slowly but steadily decreases.

There are the following types of complicated cataracts:

• Initial. An inflammatory infiltrate accumulates in the lens, gradually accumulating in the ocular tissues. At the same time, the person experiences periodic and slight blurring of vision.
• Immature. A small spot appears on the back of the lens, which gradually increases in size and becomes denser. At the same time, vision rapidly deteriorates. With immature cataracts, there is increased sensitivity to bright light and bifurcation of the contours of objects. A person may feel the appearance of spots before the eyes, halos. It is typical that corrective lenses do not provide the required effect, and vision deteriorates in twilight conditions.
• Mature. A porous formation with a yellowish tint is noted in the lens. The pupil becomes gray and the cataract becomes visible even without the use of diagnostic equipment. Vision deteriorates even more.
• Overripe. The patient sees practically nothing. The entire area of ​​the lens has a total rough layering.

Incomplete cataract

This disease manifests itself as unilateral damage to the lens. At the same time, his nutrition is disrupted due to exposure to toxins. Visual ability is impaired, a person perceives this as a significant drop in visual acuity.

Decreased visual acuity negatively affects the patient's daily life. It limits usual activities, which causes the patient to experience severe depression.

How quickly does cataract develop?

Most often, cataracts develop gradually, and their symptoms do not appear simultaneously. Experts distinguish several stages of development of this disease.

• The initial stage is characterized by clouding of the lens in the peripheral zone. Often at this stage the disease has virtually no effect on the quality of vision and goes unnoticed by the patient.
• Immature cataracts are characterized by the fact that the opacities shift from the periphery to the central optical zone, and at this stage a person notices a noticeable deterioration in vision. He can see streaks and spots in front of his eyes, and objects and objects seem blurry.
• When cataracts enter the mature stage, the entire lens is already affected by opacities, and visual acuity may decrease down to light perception.
• With overripe cataracts, the lens fibers are destroyed, the substance liquefies, and the organ acquires a milky color.

Because cataracts do not immediately affect the eyes, many patients miss the onset of the disease and see a doctor at an advanced stage.

Statistics can give an exact answer to the question of how quickly cataracts develop. In about 12% of people, the disease progresses at a rapid rate, with complete loss of vision occurring after about six years; In 15% of people, the disease progresses slowly, and complete clouding of the lens occurs on average after 15 years. Most patients (over 70%) completely lose their vision 7-10 years after the first signs of cataract appear. The exception is the so-called “swelling” cataract. It is characterized by almost instantaneous development, which is accompanied by a rapid enlargement of the lens, which clogs the outflow pathways of intraocular fluid, contributes to increased eye pressure and the appearance of headaches. This type of disease requires urgent hospitalization and surgical treatment.

Types of disease

Complicated cataract develops in the organ of vision and has four stages:

1. Initial form - factors arise that contribute to the infiltrate accumulating towards the eye. Visual acuity remains virtually unchanged, sometimes there is slight blurring that lasts for a short time.
2. Immature cataract - the lens is already seriously clouded. A significant decrease in visual acuity can be observed.
3. Mature cataract - allows you to see with the naked eye how the layering of infiltration occurred. The eye color becomes milky.
4. Overripe cataract - the damaged eye practically ceases to see.

The infiltrate can be localized in various places, causing the disease to be posterior capsular or swelling.

Diagnosis of cataracts

The earlier lens opacification is diagnosed, the higher the patient’s chances of maintaining vision. At the first signs of cataracts, you should immediately consult an experienced ophthalmologist. The main diagnostic method for cataracts is biomicroscopy - the doctor examines the anterior segment of the eye using a light lamp. This device operates on the principle of a microscope and helps to obtain an optical section of the lens, examine its structure in detail at an enlarged size, and determine the extent and localization of opacities. Diagnostic studies also include a number of other standard procedures:

• tonometry - a specialist determines the level of intraocular pressure;
• visometry - evaluates the acuity of visual perception;
• ophthalmoscopy - the doctor examines and evaluates the condition of the fundus of the eye;
• refractometry - using computer technology, an ophthalmologist measures the refraction of the eye.

Also, if necessary, specialized diagnostic methods can be prescribed. Ophthalmometry is the measurement of the radius of curvature and refractive power of the lens or cornea. This technique is used when irreversible changes in the eye lens have begun. Assessing the degree of curvature and refractive power allows us to clarify the stage of the ophthalmological disease. Ophthalmometry is also prescribed before surgical treatment in order to create an eye implant that is anatomically precisely suitable for a particular person. To calculate the power of an intraocular lens, or artificial lens, in addition to ophthalmometry, the anteroposterior axis of the eye (APA) and electrophysiological studies are determined (the lability of the optic nerve and the threshold of electrical sensitivity are determined).

According to indications, before surgical treatment, the doctor may prescribe other diagnostic methods. For example, ultrasound examination in B-mode is prescribed for severe opacities of the vitreous body and lens in order to determine the location, extent and nature of structural changes in the eye. This allows the doctor to choose the appropriate surgical technique. In preparation for surgical treatment, the patient undergoes laboratory tests, which include blood tests, urine tests, x-rays and opinions of a number of specialists (ENT specialist, endocrinologist). Careful preoperative diagnostics allows us to identify possible contraindications to surgical treatment, timely detect and sanitize foci of chronic infection, and decompensate diseases that can cause complications in the postoperative period.

Therapy tactics

Immature cataracts are treated with conservative methods or through surgery.

Conservative treatment

For cataracts developing at an early stage, the ophthalmologist usually prescribes drugs that stimulate the resorption of insoluble protein fractions. The patient uses them for several months, after which a re-examination occurs.

If the doctor detects a tendency towards recovery, there is no need for surgery. The patient's dosage is adjusted and recommended to adhere to a diet that significantly limits protein intake.

The disease requires surgery to eliminate the clouding and completely restore vision. In this case, the patient undergoes laboratory tests and undergoes all necessary types of research. If there are no contraindications, he is assigned a day on which the operation will be performed.

Surgery

Doctors recommend a microsurgical method - phacoemulsification using ultrasound. Subsequently, a multifocal or monofocal lens is installed. The procedure is performed on an outpatient basis and includes the following steps:

• taking an antibacterial agent several days before surgery to prevent the risk of infection as a result of surgery;
• application of anesthesia to a patient lying on a couch;
• making a microscopic incision in the cornea to provide access to the lens;
• removal of the lens by introducing a special substance, due to which it softens and turns into an emulsion, while the lens capsule remains intact;
• installation of multifocal or monofocal lenses with a hypoallergenic composition that prevents rejection reactions;
• application of a bactericidal dressing.

Modern operations do not require stitches, which eliminates the presence of scars. Since the lens does not contain nerve endings, it cannot hurt during the postoperative period. Removing immature cataracts through surgery avoids the complications that arise as a result of this disease.

The surgical procedure is performed with virtually no damage to the tissue structures of the organ of vision. The rehabilitation period after such operations passes quite quickly, and the patient returns to a full life in the shortest possible time. However, at first he is recommended to rest and completely avoid physical activity.

In rare cases, complications may occur such as:

• displacement of the inserted lens and damage to surrounding tissues;
• intraocular hemorrhage (major or small);
• the appearance of spots on the eyes;
• damage during the procedure to the internal elements of the organ of vision.

Despite possible complications, ophthalmologists still recommend surgery. This is due to the fact that in the absence of such measures, more serious complications will arise. The patient will completely lose vision and this will be irreparable.

Useful video

Immature cataract of the eye and its treatment:

Complications of cataracts with late diagnosis or lack of treatment

Once you have been diagnosed with lens opacities, it is important to begin treatment immediately. Treatment of eye cataracts must be carried out even if the symptoms are mild and vision is not yet impaired. The disease will progress, and the deterioration of visual function is only a matter of time. If you ignore treatment for eye cataracts, sooner or later this can lead to the death of the optic nerve, which stops transmitting nerve impulses to the brain, resulting in blindness. There are other complications of cataracts if the diagnosis is delayed.

• Lens luxation.

With this complication, the lens is displaced and separated from the ligament that held it. In this case, vision with cataracts deteriorates sharply, and the patient requires mandatory surgery to remove the lens.

• Phacogenic glaucoma.

Long-term lack of therapy contributes to the growth of opacities, increased intraocular pressure and the development of glaucoma - another dangerous ophthalmological disease. With this complication, surgery and therapy to help reduce eye pressure are indicated.

• Phacolytic iridocyclitis.

The main signs of this complication are inflammation of the iris and ciliary body. A person feels headache and eye pain, the vascular network in the eyes acquires a red or blue tint, and pupil mobility worsens.

• Obscurational amblyopia.

This complication is often observed with congenital cataracts. The main signs are atrophy of the previously healthy retina, cessation of its functioning, and lack of response to visual stimuli. Amblyopia can only be treated surgically. To avoid such serious complications, it is necessary to diagnose cataracts in time and seek professional help at the first symptoms.

Causes and symptoms

The most common cause of immature cataracts is age-related degenerative changes in the structures of the eye. Other predisposing factors:

• disturbances in metabolic processes;
• hereditary predisposition;
• unfavorable effects of environmental factors;
• bad habits;
• eye injuries;
• intoxication of the body;
• irradiation;
• operations on the visual organ;
• infectious eye diseases;
• non-inflammatory ophthalmological diseases.

Cataract treatment

Conservative treatment of cataracts using special eye drops and other medications can slow down the progression of the disease. However, no medicine or eye gymnastics can restore transparency to the lens. As soon as the disease begins to negatively affect the quality of life and seriously impairs vision, doctors recommend surgical removal of the clouded organ and replacing it with an intraocular lens (artificial implant). Today, microsurgical treatment is the only way to get rid of cataracts. According to statistics, normal vision returns to 90% of patients after surgery. Just a few years ago, surgery to remove the lens was performed only for so-called “ripe” cataracts. Modern technologies, the use of the latest operating techniques, and advanced equipment have made it possible to expand the list of indications for cataract surgical treatment.

Today, you don’t have to wait for vision to deteriorate critically, but perform surgery when the acuity is 0.1-0.2. These figures may be even higher if acute vision is a condition for maintaining professional activity. In eye microsurgery, there are several types of operations to remove the lens.

• Extracapsular cataract extraction.

With this method of surgical treatment, the doctor removes the nucleus and masses of the lens, leaving the posterior capsule of the organ in the eyeball. This method is good because it maintains a barrier between the anterior segment of the eye and the vitreous body. Its disadvantage is that it is excessively traumatic, since the doctor has to make an incision in the cornea and apply sutures.

• Intracapsular cataract extraction.

With this method, the lens is removed from the capsule through a large incision. To carry out the manipulation, a cryoextractor is used - a device that freezes the lens to its tip and allows it to be removed. Today the technique is rarely used because it is very traumatic.

• Ultrasonic phacoemulsification.

This method was first used in the 70s of the 20th century, and still remains one of the most popular and effective methods of treating cataracts. During the operation, the ophthalmic surgeon, through a small incision, inserts the tip of a phacoemulsifier into the anterior chamber of the eye - a device that emits ultrasonic vibrations and thus crushes the damaged organ into an emulsion state. After this, the lens masses are removed from the eye using a tube system. Ultrasonic phacoemulsification is less traumatic than extraction techniques, but it also has disadvantages. Ultrasound negatively affects the posterior epithelium of the cornea and intraocular structures. The greater the power and the longer the period of exposure, the stronger the damaging effect. Every year, the surgical technique is improved, new phacoemulsification techniques appear, which help reduce the time of exposure to ultrasound and thereby reduce complications in the postoperative period.

• Laser phacoemulsification.

Today there are several technologies for laser cataract removal, which are based on the use of different types of lasers. The laser method has several advantages. It is effective in removing cataracts at various stages, including when the lens has hardened. The laser effectively destroys the dense core, which is then removed through a microscopic incision. Laser phacoemulsification is used if the lens is resistant to ultrasound. The procedure has minimal contraindications, is low-traumatic and often occurs without complications.

The laser acts on the eye tissue with maximum precision, allowing you to remove even the smallest particles of the lens, which eliminates the possibility of secondary cataracts. The disadvantage of the method can be considered its complexity, which requires high skill from the ophthalmic surgeon. Also, laser treatment is complicated by high degrees of lens opacity, since the opaque medium interferes with the necessary manipulations. Experts say that this method is suitable for only 70% of patients.

The optimal method for cataract removal is determined by an ophthalmologist, taking into account the medical history, indications and contraindications of the individual patient. If lens opacity is diagnosed in both eyes, the specialist first operates on the eye with less visual acuity.

Eye drops for cataracts

To treat cataracts, a variety of drops are used to stop the development of the disease and prevent complications after surgery. All of them can only be prescribed by an ophthalmologist. Self-treatment of the disease is unacceptable.

Catalin

Catalin - developed and produced in Japan, is a unique medicine for the prevention and treatment of age-related and diabetic cataracts.

Thanks to the active substance of the drops - Pyrenoxine, the process of converting water-soluble lens proteins into opaque substances (creating the feeling of a veil over the eyes) - stops and thus maintains its transparency.

Due to the regression of clouding of the lens, during the use of drops, there is a decrease in blurred vision, normalization of light sensitivity, and the sensation of double vision of objects in the eyes disappears. The drug is well tolerated.

Catalin is used continuously, 1-2 drops per eye up to five times a day.

A significant therapeutic effect of Catalin is noted after 3 months. after starting use.

Catalin is suitable for people diagnosed with early age-related cataracts; people with the appearance of cataracts as a consequence of complications from diabetes mellitus; people who are contraindicated for cataract surgery; as a prevention of complications after cataract surgery.

Oftan Katahrom

These are eye drops with an antioxidant and metabolic effect that slow down the development of cataracts due to their combined composition. The drug is produced in Finland and has been sold on the Russian market for more than 10 years. Contains substances such as nicotinamide, citrom C, adenosine and others. The use of this remedy helps to normalize metabolism in the lens and activate the processes of reduction and oxidation. Drops act as an antioxidant. The advantages of using the product are that they are not absorbed into the bloodstream, and the effect occurs in less than a minute.

You can use drops while pregnant, but only after consulting a doctor. The most common side effects include allergic reactions, some tingling and a burning sensation in the eyes. Very rarely, dizziness, increased blood pressure and nausea may occur. Sometimes a person suffers from fainting and shortness of breath.

The product should not be used in children under the age of majority, or if they are hypersensitive to the components included in the drops. It is important to avoid wearing soft contact lenses. If irritation occurs, you should not drive a car or operate other potentially dangerous equipment until it disappears.

Quinax

Drops used to treat cataracts, promoting the resorption of proteins that form in the lens of the eye. In addition, Quinax promotes the activation of enzymes contained in the moisture of the anterior chamber of the organ of vision. The advantage of the drops is that they have low absorption, have no side effects and do not interact with other medications. Drops can be used during pregnancy and in children only after consulting a doctor.

It is important to use the product for a long time, even if the therapeutic effect occurs in the shortest possible time. You should not instill Quinax without first removing your contact lenses. After applying the drug, you should wait at least 15 minutes and only then put the lenses back in place. If temporary visual impairment occurs after instillation, you should refrain from work associated with eye strain. The use of drops is indicated for senile, congenital, traumatic and secondary cataracts.

Taufon

Drops used for the treatment and prevention of cataracts, triggering regenerative processes in the tissues of the eye. Taufon helps normalize metabolism in the eyeball and improves metabolic processes. For cataracts, the course of treatment should be at least 3 months. Side effects include the possible occurrence of allergic reactions.

Drops can be used for traumatic, senile, radiation and other types of cataracts. It should not be used in childhood, or if there is hypersensitivity to the main active ingredient (taurine). Can be purchased at the pharmacy without a prescription.

Vizomitin "Skulachev Drops"

Drops are used to prevent dry eye syndrome and are often prescribed in the postoperative period. They help produce your own tears and improve the composition of the tear film. The duration of use depends on the severity of symptoms and is determined by the attending physician. If necessary, the drug can be used with other eye drops, including for the treatment of cataracts. However, you should maintain an interval between deposits of at least 5 minutes.

There are no side effects other than allergic reactions. Should not be used during breastfeeding or pregnancy. After opening the bottle, the drops remain usable for 30 days. The age limit is 18 years. A prescription is required to purchase.

Eye drops 999 for cataracts and glaucoma

A preventive and therapeutic agent that can relieve visual tension from the eyes, remove cataracts, tone the elements of the eye, and reduce intraocular pressure. Should not be used if there is severe eye pain or if an allergic reaction occurs. If you have eye infections, you should first consult an ophthalmologist.

It is worth understanding that the drug is not able to replace drug treatment, and serves as a prophylactic agent that has some healing effect.

Contraindications to cataract removal

Despite the fact that surgical removal of the lens is the only way to treat cataracts, not all patients can undergo this operation. There are a number of contraindications to lens removal.

• Infectious ophthalmological diseases.

With conjunctivitis, scleritis, uveitis and other infectious diseases of the eye, the risk of complications in the postoperative period increases, so first the ophthalmologist prescribes drugs to treat the infection and only after the end of therapy begins cataract removal.

• Decompensated glaucoma.

Glaucoma is characterized by increased intraocular pressure. If this condition is not corrected before surgery, it can lead to a dangerous complication - expulsive bleeding, which can result in the death of the eye.

• Pregnancy.

In most cases, doctors recommend postponing lens removal surgery until after pregnancy and breastfeeding.

• Somatic diseases in the acute stage.
• Diabetes mellitus, tumors, and severe multiple sclerosis are contraindications for cataract removal because they increase the risk of complications and worsen the patient’s general condition.

An ophthalmologist will tell you in more detail about contraindications for surgery after a thorough examination of the patient.

Causes

Cataracts of the eye can develop for a variety of reasons. The main ones are:

1. Heredity. The disease can be passed on from generation to generation, so it is important to know if your immediate family has cataracts.
2. Mechanical and chemical damage and injuries, contusions. These are the most common causes of cataract development.
3. Having bad habits. Tobacco and alcohol can cause a variety of diseases, including cataracts.
4. Metabolic disorders, lack of vitamins in the body, diabetes mellitus and disorders of the endocrine system. These problems cause a number of side diseases that require complex treatment.
5. Poor environmental conditions in the place of residence, high degree of radiation activity.
6. Exposure to various chemicals and toxic substances.
7. Some medicines.

Restoring vision using the Zhdanov method is described here.

Cataracts can be a complication of many other diseases, for example, rheumatoid arthritis, glaucoma, hypertension, and so on.

A greater likelihood of developing cataracts exists in those people who are obese.

Ways to restore vision after surgery

Removing the lens does not mean that your eye will completely stop seeing. But the quality of vision will resemble the feeling when you open your eyes underwater. Orientation in space and the ability to perform simple actions are preserved, but the quality of life noticeably deteriorates.

After surgery, glasses, contact lenses, or intraocular lenses (IOLs) can replace the removed lens. For most patients, it is preferable to implant an artificial lens, which is installed instead of one removed immediately during surgical treatment. Glasses and contact lenses are used when the patient has contraindications to implant installation.

Treatment

Most often, treatment comes down to prescribing the patient to wear glasses or contact lenses so that the person can lead a normal life.

It is recommended to undergo systematic examination on a regular basis. If during the next examination it turns out that vision has decreased significantly, the doctor may recommend surgical intervention. The scenario for the operation is developed taking into account the individual characteristics of the patient, the condition of the body as a whole and the entire picture of the course of the disease are taken into account.

During surgery, the clouded lens is replaced with an artificial lens. Further, at the end of the operation, it is necessary to maintain complete rest: protect the eyes from intense light and limit sports activities.

Intraocular lens installation

An artificial lens is a clear lens with a specific refractive power that is placed in the eye, centered, and secured during cataract surgery. Modern safe materials are used to make the prosthesis, most often silicone or acrylate. Intraocular lenses can be hard or soft. In modern microsurgery, the latter are used more often, since implantation of an elastic lens requires a minimal incision in the eye tissue. Special elastic arms are usually located along the edge of the implant. With their help, the lens is fixed in the capsular bag of the eye lens. The selection of an artificial lens is carried out by an ophthalmologist, taking into account the vision characteristics and wishes of a particular patient. Monofocal IOLs provide good vision at one distance - near or far; toric ones additionally correct astigmatism. There are also multifocal IOLs, which are specially designed with multiple foci. They provide good vision at far, medium and near distances, helping to reduce dependence or completely abandon glasses. Accommodating lenses that copy the work of the natural lens have a similar effect. Aspherical intraocular lenses provide high-quality images at dusk, in low light conditions. They correct spherical distortions well and help get rid of highlights and halos.

To determine the appropriate type of intraocular lens, the doctor assesses the state of the visual system, and also clarifies with the patient his wishes regarding the range of vision, its quality, and the correction of associated disorders. Artificial lenses made from modern materials are tolerated by most patients. These implants do not require replacement and can serve as a natural lens throughout a person’s life. More recently, American and Chinese biologists have discovered a new way to create an artificial lens using stem cells. Essentially, a new lens is grown directly in the patient's eye after the damaged organ is removed. The authors of the study are confident that in the future this technology will become the main one in the treatment of cataracts. However, today it is completely new, little studied and has not yet found mass application.

How to treat a clouded lens?

The initial stage of cataract is best treated, when the clouding has not yet spread to a large area of ​​the natural “lens”. In such cases, you can resort to conservative methods of therapy.

We are talking about the use of medications aimed at improving metabolic processes in the tissues of the lens and inhibiting the clouding process. If conservative treatment does not bring the desired results and vision continues to deteriorate, surgical intervention must be resorted to. Its essence lies in crushing the pathological lens and removing it from the eye.

Which lens is better for cataracts - read the advice of an ophthalmologist here.

There are several basic techniques by which such manipulations are carried out:

1. Extracapsular extraction. During the operation, the surgeon opens the anterior chamber of the eye, after which he removes the lens nucleus and cortical masses.
2. Intracapsular extraction, which involves complete removal of the lens (along with the capsule).
3. Phacoemulsification. The peculiarity of this operation is that the natural “lens” is crushed using ultrasound, after which its remains are washed out and removed from the eye.
4. Laser removal. The procedure is similar to phacoemulsification, except that instead of ultrasound waves, the operation uses a laser beam to crush the lens.

It is important to take into account that laser cataract removal has certain contraindications, so the treating ophthalmologist must take into account certain points, namely: the patient’s age, medical history, body condition and type of activity.

Complications after cataract surgery

Even modern cataract removal techniques, although they reduce, do not eliminate the risks of complications.

• Swelling and inflammation.

Because this complication is common after surgery, doctors often give the patient antibiotics or anti-inflammatory drugs as a preventative measure.

• Implant displacement.

This complication most often occurs when the prosthesis is not properly fixed. Careful selection of a professional surgeon with extensive experience in performing such operations will help minimize this risk.

• Secondary cataract.

It manifests itself as clouding of the posterior capsule of the lens and decreased vision in the long-term postoperative period. This complication arises due to the fact that after surgery to remove the lens, its epithelial cells remain in the posterior capsule. When they grow or fibrosis of the capsular bag, symptoms that are characteristic of cataracts occur: blurred images, decreased brightness, deterioration of visual acuity. A special laser capsulotomy method is used for treatment.

• Increased intraocular pressure.

Pressure increases when fluid accumulates in the eyes and puts pressure on the optic nerve. To treat this complication, medications are prescribed that promote the outflow of fluid from the eye chamber.

• Bleeding in the eyes.

This complication is rare and requires immediate surgical intervention.

What it is

Cataract is an irreversible process of changing the transparency of the lens. It becomes cloudy, which leads to blurred vision. In ancient times, ancient Greek healers believed that cataracts appear when a cloudy liquid flows and accumulates between the iris and the lens, which is why katarrháktes is translated as “waterfall.”

Normally, the lens is a transparent lens that allows light rays to pass through and focus on the retina.

And with pathological changes leading to cataracts, the water-soluble proteins of the lens become water-insoluble. This leads to swelling and inflammation of the lens. It loses its transparency, so objects become fuzzy and blurry. The changes that occur to vision with cataracts are irreversible.

Types of cataracts:

• One-sided and two-sided;
• Initial, maturing and mature;
• Congenital and acquired (senile, traumatic, radiation, secondary);
• Anterior and posterior, nuclear and cortical, total.

Postoperative period

Surgical treatment of cataracts, depending on the chosen method of operation, can be performed on an outpatient or inpatient basis. In the second case, the patient is discharged from the hospital after a few days.

To reduce the risk of developing postoperative complications and speed up healing, you must strictly follow the recommendations of doctors:

• for 1.5-2 months it is necessary to instill eye drops with special medications prescribed by a specialist;
• during this period, regularly visit an ophthalmologist to monitor the dynamics of recovery;
• Wear a protective bandage over your eyes that prevents the entry of dust, dirt, smoke, and water.
• If the operation was performed with the replacement of the lens with an intraocular lens, then in order to avoid its displacement, the following rules must be followed:
• do not rub the operated eye or put pressure on it;

• do not sleep on the side where the operated organ is located;
• Do not take a steam bath for a month. You can shower and wash your hair with shampoo a few days after surgery. In this case, it is necessary to close your eyes, and after hygiene procedures, instill them with special drops;
• Limit physical activity for 30 days, avoid lifting heavy objects;
• do not drink alcoholic beverages;
• limit reading until vision is completely stabilized;
• wear safety glasses;
• don't wear makeup.

Your ophthalmologist will give you precise instructions on how to behave in the postoperative period. Rehabilitation usually takes from two months to six months.

Prevention

Anyone can have this dangerous eye disease. And even if people lived for more than a hundred years, almost everyone would have it.

But cataracts do not always develop due to age-related changes in the lens. You can prevent its development by following these recommendations:

• protect eyes from ultraviolet radiation;
• include foods enriched with microelements and vitamins in the diet;
• stop smoking and drinking alcoholic beverages;
• monitor the condition of the organ of vision by undergoing preventive medical examinations annually.

Prevention of cataracts

Knowing how cataracts develop, you can take preventive measures that will help avoid its occurrence or diagnose it at an early stage, which is very important for effective treatment. Prevention of cataracts includes:

• regular examinations by an ophthalmologist every six months;
• use of sunglasses and contact lenses with a UV filter to protect the eyes from the negative effects of ultraviolet radiation;
• rational nutrition, eating foods rich in antioxidants, avoiding or limiting junk food;
• regular monitoring of blood sugar levels and timely treatment of diabetes mellitus;
• compliance with safety rules when working in chemical plants, laboratories, hot shops and other facilities where there is an increased risk of eye injury;
• thorough hand hygiene protects against eye infections that can cause the development of cataracts;
• quitting smoking, drinking alcohol and other bad habits.

Cataract prevention is especially important for those people who have crossed the age limit of 60 years. At this age, the risk of developing the disease increases, so you need to visit an ophthalmologist at least four times a year and, when the first signs of the disease are detected, begin its treatment immediately. The ability to listen to your body and notice even the slightest changes in the functioning of the visual system will help maintain vision and a high quality of life even with such a serious disease as lens opacity.

Diagnostics

In order for eye cataracts to be diagnosed in the early stages of pathology development, high-precision equipment is used for a comprehensive examination. During the development of the disease in the early stages, the symptoms of cataracts can be confused with age-related farsightedness, so they are mistakenly not given much importance.

During diagnostics the following is carried out:

• visual acuity test;
• checking intraocular pressure;
• fundus examination;
• visual field examination.

Cortical cataract

» Publications » Eye diseases » Cortical cataract

Cortical, or gray, cataract. With cortical cataracts, the first signs of opacification appear in the cortex of the lens at the equator.

The central part remains transparent for a long time, so visual acuity does not suffer. Patients' complaints boil down to the appearance of spots or smoke before their eyes. There is a desire to wipe away the stain and rub your eyes.

Polyopia may occur, when the patient sees several objects with one eye, especially luminous ones (several light bulbs, moons, etc.).

In the clinical course of cortical cataracts, four stages are distinguished: initial, immature, mature and overripe. Each stage is characterized by its own symptom complex.

With initial cataracts (cataracta incipiens), some patients may not complain of anything, others note the appearance of flying and fixed flies, polyopia, others notice that vision has deteriorated when viewing distant objects, but performance when working at close range has not decreased.

To identify incipient cataracts, it is necessary to use focal illumination, transmitted light and biomicroscopy. The study is best done with a dilated pupil. For this purpose, it is recommended to use weak short-term mydriatics (1% amizil solution).

Focal, or lateral, lighting for cortical cataracts helps to see spoke-shaped gray opacities against the black background of the pupil. The tops of the spokes are directed towards the center, and the base - towards the periphery. The intensity of opacification in different parts of the lens is not the same.

When examined with transmitted light, against the background of a pink glow of the pupil, the opacities appear black, since some of the reflected rays are absorbed by the clouded fibers of the lens.

Biomicroscopic studies clarify the localization of foci of opacities, their prevalence and the degree of disintegration of the lens fibers.

The first sign of incipient cortical cataract is hydration of the lens, as evidenced by subcapsular vacuoles, separation of lens fibers - lamellar dissociation and water gaps.

The latter initially remain optically empty, but are gradually filled with detritus of disintegrated fibers. The changes in the anterior and posterior cortical layers are similar.

Initial cataracts progress differently in different people. For some, this period lasts a decade, for others the process progresses quickly and after 2-3 years the stage of immature, or swelling, cataract (cataracta nondum matura) begins. The very name of this stage indicates an intensification of the processes of hydration of the lens.

The cloudiness covers almost the entire cortex of the lens, and therefore the patient complains of a sharp decrease in vision. When illuminated from the side, the lens has a gray-white color with a pearlescent tint. The most superficial layers of the lens cortex still retain transparency, so you can see a crescent shadow falling from the iris onto the cloudy salts of the lens.

Swelling of the lens is accompanied by its enlargement, which leads to a decrease in the depth of the anterior chamber of the eye. The anterior surface of the lens becomes noticeably convex. The entrance to the bay of the anterior chamber angle narrows. With rapid swelling of the lens, the angle of the anterior chamber is blocked, which sometimes threatens the occurrence of ocular hypertension.

When examining with transmitted light, an uneven dim reflex of the fundus is detected.

The biomicroscopic picture indicates that some of the cortical fibers remain transparent. The number of water gaps increases noticeably. Most of them are filled with turbid contents - detritus. Lamellar dissociation extends to all surface layers of the lens cortex.

Visual acuity at this stage decreases sharply, however, objective vision is still preserved. The immature cataract stage lasts indefinitely. Gradually, the lens begins to lose water. The anterior chamber deepens. The cloudiness takes on a dirty gray tint and becomes more homogeneous.

The disease enters the third period - the stage of mature cataracts (cataracta matura). Object vision disappears, only light perception with the correct projection of light is determined. Biomicroscopically it is not possible to obtain a complete optical section.

The beam penetrates only the cortex of the lens to the surface of the adult nucleus.

Lamellar dissociation is not detected, but narrow water gaps filled with turbid detritus are still visible.

Under the capsule at this stage, areas of cortical homogenization and single small, round, white subcapsular formations - “plaques” - are found.

Morphologically, they represent a focal proliferation of the lens epithelium. The figure of the lens suture is clearly visible. This is a more intense clouding at the junction of the lens fibers.

The shadow of the iris is not detected when examined with lateral illumination, which indicates complete opacification of the most superficial layers of the lens cortex.

The next stage of age-related cataracts – overmature cataracts (cataracta hypermatura) – has several stages. Pathologically altered lens fibers are subject to increasing degeneration, complete disintegration, and homogenization.

The breakdown of protein molecules leads to an increase in osmotic pressure in the lens itself, which promotes the penetration of moisture through the capsule. The lens cortex turns into a milky liquid mass. The volume of the lens increases again.

The stage of secondary swelling is called milk cataract.

The anterior chamber becomes shallow again. Secondary swelling of the lens, which is accompanied by the formation of milky cataracts, should be distinguished from primary swelling with immature age-related cataracts. With milky cataracts, the optical zones of the lens are indistinguishable, the clouding is homogeneous.

Under the capsule, subcapsular plaques are well contoured, the number of which increases compared to mature age-related cataracts. They become larger and acquire a whitish tint.

The milky masses of the lens have the ability to scatter light, so when testing light perception, patients sometimes cannot accurately determine the direction of the beam.

In some patients, extensive growths of subcapsular epithelium are observed throughout the entire anterior surface of the lens. Overproduction of the epithelium leads to the formation of a rough scar plaque. The capsule above the plaque forms folds.

The liquefied lens masses gradually undergo resorption. The volume of the lens decreases. The anterior chamber becomes deep. The iris, having lost support, begins to tremble when the eye moves. Over-ripening moves into the next stage.

The lens cortex becomes clearer due to partial resorption of the masses. The brown, smooth kernel falls downward under the influence of gravity. When the patient's position changes, the location of the nucleus also changes.

The clinical picture of this condition was described by Morgagni, therefore this stage of over-ripening is called Morgagni cataract.

If surgery is not performed, the cortex of the lens may subsequently completely resolve. A small brown core remains, which is placed in a capsule, like in a bag. Often, this condition is assessed as subluxation of the lens, since the upper equator of the nucleus, located in the area of ​​the pupil, is mistaken for the equator of the lens.

Finally, the last stage of overripening is complete resorption of the nucleus. All that remains of the lens is a capsule with multiple subcapsular plaques. The patient regains the ability to see. If you place a 10-12 diopter converging lens in front of the eye, vision improves. The condition of an eye without a lens is called aphakia.

This is the natural course of cortical age-related cataracts. However, spontaneous resorption of the lens is extremely rare; it is preceded by many years of blindness, accompanied by severe complications.

A. Bochkareva and others.

Source: https://www.glazmed.ru/lib/diseases/diseases-0165.shtml

Cataract: symptoms and treatment, disease prevention - Ask a Doctor

Cataracts are one of the most common eye diseases.
It develops, as a rule, during the aging process of the body (90% of all cases). Cataracts manifest as changes in the transparency of the entire lens or part of it, i.e., clouding occurs. The development of the disease is dangerous because it can cause severe deterioration of vision, even to the point of complete blindness. The lens is the biological lens of the eye and is normally completely transparent. It consists of a capsule, cortex and nucleus.

The lens capsule is divided into anterior and posterior. In the area of ​​the anterior capsule there are epithelial cells - they divide, ensuring the growth of the lens.

The lens grows throughout life, but its size remains constant. As new fibers form, the old ones are pushed toward the center, forming a core. And young fibers are the bark.

The lens has no blood vessels or nerve fibers and is nourished by the intraocular fluid that washes it. It is held inside the eye by thin ligaments.

It is believed that cataracts are a disease that appears with age, as a result of the aging of the body. And indeed it is.

In most cases, clouding of the lens occurs as a result of aging.

But there are other reasons:

• eye injuries: cut, burn, blow;
• eye diseases: inflammatory diseases, glaucoma and others;
• systemic diseases of the body: primarily diabetes mellitus (if present, consult an endocrinologist);
• congenital malformations: may be associated with intrauterine infection (rubella, chickenpox, cytomegalovirus, etc.), fetal intoxication (alcohol, drugs), the influence of medications or, for example, a lack of vitamins;
• exposure to ionizing radiation (X-ray, radiation);
• heredity.

According to the time of occurrence, cataracts are divided into:

1. Congenital - formed at the stage of intrauterine development. Their peculiarity is a stationary course, i.e. disorders do not increase with age.
2. Acquired - develop either with age or under the influence of any factors. They usually progress over time.

Acquired cataracts:

1. Senile (age-related, senile) is the most common type. Develops as a result of age-related changes gradually over several years. Typical for people over 40 years of age.
2. Complicated – occurs as a result of: a general disease of the body (most often diabetes mellitus); eye diseases (glaucoma, iridocyclitis, uveitis); cataract surgery (secondary cataract after surgery).
3. Post-traumatic – as a result of mechanical (contusion of the eye, cut, puncture), chemical (action of acids, alkalis, etc.), thermal (burn) effects.
4. Radiation - under the influence of radiation, x-rays, infrared radiation.
5. Medication – Some medications can affect the lens, causing cataracts. As a rule, these are potent substances that a person is forced to take for many years.

The influence of the following drugs on the development of lens opacification has been proven: corticosteroid hormones (prednisolone, etc.), chlorpromazine (for the treatment of mental and neurological diseases), amiodarone (for arrhythmias), busulfan (for the treatment of leukemia), allopurinol (against gout), gold preparations ( from rheumatoid arthritis) and some others.

Cataracts are also classified according to their morphological characteristics (its structure):

1. Nuclear - develops as a result of compaction of the nucleus of the lens (nuclear sclerosis), which acquires a yellow or brown tint. Accompanied by myopia.
2. Cortical or cortical - the initial changes are localized in the cortex of the lens, in its equatorial zone, and the center of the cortex and the nucleus remain unchanged for a long time. Therefore, with cortical cataracts, central vision remains good for a long time. Nuclear and cortical cataracts are types of senile cataracts.
3. Posterior subcapsular is a type of cortical cataract in which opacification begins not from the equator, but from the central part of the lens cortex. It begins with the formation of fine-grained opacities, which gradually invade new areas of the cortex, expanding to the periphery in the form of a disk. It manifests itself as an early and rapid loss of visual acuity, with distance vision being better than near vision (farsightedness).

In the development of cortical cataracts, there are 4 stages (they are also stages of senile cataracts, since it is most often cortical):

1. Initial stage – spoke-shaped opacities form in the equator of the crust. This manifests itself as a feeling of “floaters” before the eyes.
2. Immature cataract - opacities cover the entire cortex of the lens, sometimes it can swell (water gaps are formed in which fluid is retained), so at this stage visual acuity decreases.
3. Mature – loss of accumulated water in the lens occurs, it thickens, opacities become uniform, and acquire a grayish tint. Visual acuity continues to decline. Cataracts can mature over several years.
4. Overripe - at this stage, the fibers of the lens undergo disintegration, the pressure rises, it begins to retain water again, and secondary swelling occurs (milk cataract). With further progression of the disease, the cortical substance is destroyed, only the lens bag remains. The process of bark destruction is very slow and can last up to 10 years.

At stage 4, the patient can again begin to distinguish the contours of objects, and with the necessary correction with lenses, object vision appears.

Depending on the type and stage of the disease, symptoms can vary: from discomfort in the eye area to serious impairments in visual acuity and quality.

The main symptoms of acquired cataracts:

1. Decreased visual acuity is the most common, but not obligatory symptom. For example, if the clouding affects the peripheral part of the lens (far from the center), then this does not affect vision in any way. But cloudiness in the central part or covering the entire lens will be accompanied by decreased vision.
2. Myopia - the clouded lens thickens (swells) and, as a result, increases the refraction of the light beam; as a result, the image is focused closer - not on the retina of the eye (as happens normally), but in front of it. Near vision is good, but distant vision is unclear and blurry. If a person already suffered from myopia before the development of the pathology, then this phenomenon only intensifies.
3. A veil before the eyes - a clouded lens disrupts the passage of the light beam, or rather creates its scattering. Therefore, objects appear cloudy, as if through a stream of water.
4. Frequently changing glasses - improvement in near vision with cataracts allows a person to read and write without glasses, but this phenomenon is short-lived, because over time, growing cataracts lead to severe deterioration of vision.
5. Doubling of objects occurs due to non-uniform dispersion of the light flux.
6. Changes in photosensitivity - patients do not tolerate bright light well; they note that vision is better in cloudy weather. People also experience glare.
7. Deterioration of color perception - the world becomes gray and dull.
8. Change in pupil color – an initially black pupil may become yellow, cloudy or even white (when it swells).

At the onset of the disease, visual acuity usually does not suffer; blurring, double vision, and a feeling of “floaters” appear before the eyes. Over time, the symptoms intensify and the severity begins to decrease. It is at this stage that patients usually turn to a specialist.

You can suspect congenital cataracts in a child based on the following symptoms:

• presence of strabismus;
• white color of the pupil;
• the child does not respond to toys unless they make a sound.

Even if specialists in the maternity hospital or parents do not find signs of cataracts in the child if the corresponding symptoms are present, upon reaching the age of one month, all newborns must undergo a routine examination by an ophthalmologist, where the disease is likely to be detected.

Indicated only in the initial stages of the disease, aimed at preventing the progression of cataracts, since changes in the lens are irreversible.

To treat cataracts, drugs are used that improve metabolism in the tissues of the lens and prevent lipid peroxidation (there is a theory that changes in the lens occur precisely because of this):

• "Quinax" is a modern drug that slows down the development of cataracts and helps stabilize them;
• “Oftan-katachrome” – improves the metabolism (nutrition) of the lens;
• "Taufon" is an older drug that also enhances the metabolism of lens tissue.

Cataracts usually progress without surgery.

The only effective way to treat cataracts, since the processes of lens opacification are irreversible, and drug treatment only slows down their development.

The essence of surgical treatment is extraction (removal) of the clouded lens.

Types of operations

Intracapsular - the lens is removed along with the capsule. This operation is quite traumatic and is used extremely rarely today (if the ligaments holding the lens are damaged).

Extracapsular - an incision is made in the cornea, then the capsule is opened and the clouded lens is removed, after which sutures are placed on the cornea of ​​the eye. This operation is also not popular now, because the incision is quite large.

Ultrasonic phacoemulsification is the main method of cataract removal in modern medicine.

The essence of the operation is to crush the clouded lens with ultrasound, after which fragments of the crushed lens are sucked out. To perform such an operation, a very small incision is sufficient, which does not need to be sutured.

Phacoemulsification can be performed on an outpatient basis or with the patient hospitalized for only 1-2 days. There are no age restrictions. Local anesthesia is usually used.

There are also other modern surgical methods:

• laser extraction;
• bimanual cold phacoemulsification;
• quailasis – hydromonitor destruction of the clouded lens.

At the preoperative stage, it is necessary to choose a method for subsequent vision correction. Possible:

• spectacle correction;
• contact lenses;
• An artificial lens – an intraocular lens (IOL) – is implanted into the eye immediately after cataract removal.

IOL is the best method of correction, because it provides good visual acuity and does not require further wearing of glasses or lenses. There are many types of intraocular lenses, they differ in the method of fixation and cost.

Only an ophthalmologist can choose the optimal type of operation for the patient and the method of further vision correction, taking into account individual characteristics and financial capabilities.

The eyes need to be protected, protected from harmful environmental factors, possible injuries, and provided with the necessary rest and nutrition through a balanced diet.

A careful attitude, if not prevent it, will help delay or slow down the development of the disease.

Watch the video about cataract treatment:

Source: https://sprosivracha.com/articles/health/99-katarakta-prichiny-simptomy-lechenie-i-profilaktika

Which doctor should I contact?

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