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| Many people misunderstand
about cataracts. Cataracts are not related to cancer;
yet the cataracts are a clouding of the ordinarily clear
and transparent lens of the eye. Normally, the lens of
the eye is clear, but when a cataract forms, the lens
can become so opaque and the light cannot easily be transmitted
to the retina. |
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Causes
Cataracts
are caused by a change in the chemical composition of
the lens resulting in a loss of transparency. Cataracts
are divided into 4 categories.
1. Senile cataracts
This is the most type of cataracts resulting form a process
of aging at the early age of 40. All people will have
cataracts when they are in the old age.
2. Congenital cataracts
Cataracts are sometimes hereditary or can be caused by
infection or inflammation that affects the pregnant mother
and the unborn baby.
3. Traumatic cataracts
This type of cataracts results from eye injuries, a hard
blow, puncture, cut, intense heat or chemical burn.
4. Secondary cataracts
Certain drugs, systemic diseases or infection such as
steroid and diabetes lead to this form of cataracts.
Symptoms
A person may or may not be aware that a cataract is developing.
If the cataract is located on the outer edge of the lens,
no change may be noticed in vision. |
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On the other hand,
if the cloudiness is located near the center of the lens,
it interferes with clear sight. The eyes may be more sensitive
to light and glare, making night driving more difficult.
The most common symptom of cataract is blurred vision.
Treatment
Cataract microsurgery is commonly
highly successful and more than 90% of patients are able
to regain good vision. With the removal of the cloudy
lens, artificial lens is needed to substitute its function
of focusing light rays onto the retina. An intraocular
implant is a popular treatment for cataract in this time
by using artificial lens. Artificial lens, plastic discs
e.g. monofocal intraocular lens, multifocal intraocular
lens, and accommodative intraocular lens, are implanted
inside the eyeball by surgery that have been used for
many years with excellent results achieved.
The plastic artificial lens is usually
called Intraocular lens (IOL). It is the most common prosthesis
nowadays. Saint Peter Eye Hospital develops our new cataract
surgery combined the new method of bimanual cool phacoemulsification
to remove the cataract and the injection of the intraocular
lens to restore the patient vision. This is the newest
method of cataract surgery.
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