Cataract is very common in daily life and has become the leading cause of blindness among elderly people in China. Everyone is at risk of developing cataracts. What are the warning symptoms of cataracts? How can elderly people prevent cataracts from occurring?
When these symptoms appear, be alert to cataracts!
Due to the fact that the main component of the crystalline lens is protein, as age increases, proteins are prone to aging and become less elastic and cloudy, causing the eyes to see things blurry. This is called senile cataract.
These symptoms require vigilance: mild visual impairment such as vision loss and blurred vision, or eye fatigue;
Seeing things with ghosting or distortion;
There are black spots fixed in front of me, or clouds and mist in front of me;
Fear of light, decreased contrast sensitivity under strong light, decreased ability to adapt to darkness, and glare under nighttime car lights;
The original presbyopia has decreased but myopia has worsened, or it is clearer to see close objects without wearing presbyopia glasses;
Obvious blurred vision and dull or white pupils must be taken seriously.
If the above symptoms occur, do not delay and go to the hospital for examination as soon as possible.
The impact of not treating cataracts in a timely manner
Due to many elderly people not paying enough attention to cataracts, they easily confuse cataracts with presbyopia, and turn a blind eye to cataracts, resulting in delayed treatment. Delaying treatment for cataracts can have a greater impact:
Firstly, it affects the quality of life
Cataract has a long process from the appearance of blurred vision to maturity, and if left untreated, one will have to live in a blurred world for a long time.
Secondly, it increases the difficulty of surgery. After severe cataracts, the hardness of the lens nucleus will increase, which increases the operation time and risk. Postoperative vision recovery is slow and may even damage the cornea.
Thirdly, it can lead to complications such as glaucoma, uveitis, and even loss of vision in other eye diseases.
Do I have to undergo surgery if I have cataracts?
Many people have cataracts and rely on certain eye drops, but in fact, drug treatment for cataracts has no definite effect. Surgery remains the only fundamental solution. Of course, if the symptoms are mild and do not affect daily life, surgery may not be necessary.
Cataract phacoemulsification combined with lens implantation is currently a commonly used surgical method. This surgery is currently technically mature and can be performed in a short time, with skilled doctors able to complete it in just 5 minutes. The surgery does not cause bleeding or pain, and usually the vision can be significantly improved by rechecking the next day.
How to prevent cataracts?
Scientific use of eyes
Avoid staring at electronic screens for long periods of time, such as mobile phones, tablets, computers, etc.
Control of endocrine and metabolic diseases
In patients with diabetes, poor blood sugar control will change the osmotic pressure of the lens and affect the metabolism of the lens. As time passes, diabetes cataract will occur. Excessive blood sugar can also damage the retina. Even if the blood sugar of patients with diabetes is well controlled, they should also have an eye examination every year to detect diabetes related eye diseases at an early stage.
Take good care of sun protection for the eyes
Currently, UV damage is widely recognized as a triggering factor for cataracts in the medical community. This is because excessive exposure to ultraviolet radiation can affect the oxidation-reduction process of the lens, causing denaturation and clouding of lens proteins, resulting in cataracts.
Seek medical attention promptly at the ophthalmology department if you feel discomfort in your eyes. Early diagnosis and treatment are always the ultimate treasures for preventing and treating diseases.
In short, actively prevent cataracts, pay attention to eye care, seek medical attention promptly if necessary, and once diagnosed, follow medical advice and receive scientific treatment.