Kay Kay Healthcare Ltd.
CATRACTS
SYMPTOMS
Because everyone eyesight changes later in life, and because cataract development is usually a gradual process, your first symptoms may be having trouble passing the vision test when renewing your driver’s license or having regular eye exam. Physical symptoms include:
• Hazy vision that might be worse in bright light.
• Impaired vision at night; difficulty in discerning movements, details, or objects.
• Blinding or uncomfortable glare from automobile headlights or bright sunlight.
• Seeing halos around lights.
• Unexpected improvement in near vision.
• Double or triple vision in one eye only.
• A milky white or opaque appearance to the normally transparent lens of the eye.
• Painful inflammation and pressure within the eye.
WHAT IS CATRACTS
The lens of the human eye focuses light so that you can see objects clearly at various distances. It must remain transparent for clear vision. The clouding of this lens is called a cataract. As the developing cataract blocks or distorts the light entering the eye, you will experience a gradual, persistent, painless luring of vision, as though you were looking through a haze. Cataracts are the leading cause of the blindness, accounting for almost 20 million cases worldwide and at least 40000 cases in the United States. Despite these numbers, the disease is actually one of the less serious eye disorders, because surgery can restore the lost sight in most cases. Yet in the U.S. alone, some 5000 people go blind each year because of ignorance, fear, or refusal to undergo a relatively painless operation.
CAUSES
Cataracts are the result of change in the chemical structure of proteins in the cells of the lens. The usually clear proteins becomes cloudy, primarily as a result of the proteins aging over the course of the lifetime; about 75 percent of all cataracts arise from this natural aging. Called senile cataracts, they are most prevalent in people over the age of 70. A variety of ordinary stresses can contribute to senile cataracts. One major factor is exposure to sunlight, particularly ultraviolet B radiation, which reacts with the lens protein. Other risk factors, according to some specialist, are cigarettes smoke, air pollution, vitamin deficiencies, and heavy alcohol consumption. The most common type of senile cataracts, and one with a surprising side effects, is known as nuclear sclerosis, in which cataract develop in the nucleus of the lens. During the early stages of cataract formation, the lens swells slightly, which increase its focusing power and improves near vision to such an extent that some people find they can suddenly without eye glasses. Cataracts may also develops as a secondary effect of other eye ailments such as glaucoma or of systematic disease such as diabetes mellitus. Other causes include physical injury to the lens, large amounts of radiation, chemical and drug toxicity, and hereditary disorders.
DIAGNOSTIC AND TEST PROCEDURES
By shining a penlight on your pupil, your doctor may detect the cataract. Using special instruments and techniques, your ophthalmologist will identify its precise character, location, and extent.
TREATMENT
At present only corrective treatment for a developed cataracts is surgery. However, both conventional and alternative therapies are seeking ways to prevent cataract formation.
CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE
Cataract surgery is one of the most successful of all operations. More than 500000 cataract operations are performed each year in the United States, and approximately 95 percent of the patients report improved vision. The operation, usually performed under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis, is safe, fast, and nearly painless. The clouded lens may be removed through a small incision made at the outer edged of the cornea or with an ultrasonic needle called a Phacoemulsifier using a technique that reduce the size of the incision, making sutures unnecessary. The next step often is the implantation of a clear plastic replacement lens. In cases where lens removal is not followed by an artificial lens implant, strong or thick corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses are necessary. Following surgery, you will usually wear a protective eye shield at night. To prevent infection and reduce inflammation, your physician may recommend that you apply antibiotic and steroid ointments or drops to your eye. Over time, 20 to 50 percent of patient experience a recurrence of visual clouding caused by a cellophane thin membrane that sometimes develop behind the artificial lens implant. The membrane can be removed by laser.
PREVENTION
The single most important thing you can do to prevent cataract developments is to avoid bright sunlight outdoors by wearing sunglasses that filter out UVB. Dark glasses that do not filter out UVB can actually increase you risk, because your pupils widen to adjust to the decrease light, thus exposing your eyes to more of the dangerous UVB radiation. Some ophthalmologist think that antioxidants, which reduce free radicals that can damage lens protein, offer protection against cataract development by lessening or retarding protein deterioration in the lens brought on by environmental factors. Naturopaths recommend a diet high in fruits and vegetables containing antioxidants such as beta carotene vitamin A, selenium, and vitamin C and E, including citrus fruits, spinach, sweet potatoes, carrots, and broccoli.
CATRACTS
SYMPTOMS
Because everyone eyesight changes later in life, and because cataract development is usually a gradual process, your first symptoms may be having trouble passing the vision test when renewing your driver’s license or having regular eye exam. Physical symptoms include:
• Hazy vision that might be worse in bright light.
• Impaired vision at night; difficulty in discerning movements, details, or objects.
• Blinding or uncomfortable glare from automobile headlights or bright sunlight.
• Seeing halos around lights.
• Unexpected improvement in near vision.
• Double or triple vision in one eye only.
• A milky white or opaque appearance to the normally transparent lens of the eye.
• Painful inflammation and pressure within the eye.
WHAT IS CATRACTS
The lens of the human eye focuses light so that you can see objects clearly at various distances. It must remain transparent for clear vision. The clouding of this lens is called a cataract. As the developing cataract blocks or distorts the light entering the eye, you will experience a gradual, persistent, painless luring of vision, as though you were looking through a haze. Cataracts are the leading cause of the blindness, accounting for almost 20 million cases worldwide and at least 40000 cases in the United States. Despite these numbers, the disease is actually one of the less serious eye disorders, because surgery can restore the lost sight in most cases. Yet in the U.S. alone, some 5000 people go blind each year because of ignorance, fear, or refusal to undergo a relatively painless operation.
CAUSES
Cataracts are the result of change in the chemical structure of proteins in the cells of the lens. The usually clear proteins becomes cloudy, primarily as a result of the proteins aging over the course of the lifetime; about 75 percent of all cataracts arise from this natural aging. Called senile cataracts, they are most prevalent in people over the age of 70. A variety of ordinary stresses can contribute to senile cataracts. One major factor is exposure to sunlight, particularly ultraviolet B radiation, which reacts with the lens protein. Other risk factors, according to some specialist, are cigarettes smoke, air pollution, vitamin deficiencies, and heavy alcohol consumption. The most common type of senile cataracts, and one with a surprising side effects, is known as nuclear sclerosis, in which cataract develop in the nucleus of the lens. During the early stages of cataract formation, the lens swells slightly, which increase its focusing power and improves near vision to such an extent that some people find they can suddenly without eye glasses. Cataracts may also develops as a secondary effect of other eye ailments such as glaucoma or of systematic disease such as diabetes mellitus. Other causes include physical injury to the lens, large amounts of radiation, chemical and drug toxicity, and hereditary disorders.
DIAGNOSTIC AND TEST PROCEDURES
By shining a penlight on your pupil, your doctor may detect the cataract. Using special instruments and techniques, your ophthalmologist will identify its precise character, location, and extent.
TREATMENT
At present only corrective treatment for a developed cataracts is surgery. However, both conventional and alternative therapies are seeking ways to prevent cataract formation.
CONVENTIONAL MEDICINE
Cataract surgery is one of the most successful of all operations. More than 500000 cataract operations are performed each year in the United States, and approximately 95 percent of the patients report improved vision. The operation, usually performed under local anesthesia on an outpatient basis, is safe, fast, and nearly painless. The clouded lens may be removed through a small incision made at the outer edged of the cornea or with an ultrasonic needle called a Phacoemulsifier using a technique that reduce the size of the incision, making sutures unnecessary. The next step often is the implantation of a clear plastic replacement lens. In cases where lens removal is not followed by an artificial lens implant, strong or thick corrective eyeglasses or contact lenses are necessary. Following surgery, you will usually wear a protective eye shield at night. To prevent infection and reduce inflammation, your physician may recommend that you apply antibiotic and steroid ointments or drops to your eye. Over time, 20 to 50 percent of patient experience a recurrence of visual clouding caused by a cellophane thin membrane that sometimes develop behind the artificial lens implant. The membrane can be removed by laser.
PREVENTION
The single most important thing you can do to prevent cataract developments is to avoid bright sunlight outdoors by wearing sunglasses that filter out UVB. Dark glasses that do not filter out UVB can actually increase you risk, because your pupils widen to adjust to the decrease light, thus exposing your eyes to more of the dangerous UVB radiation. Some ophthalmologist think that antioxidants, which reduce free radicals that can damage lens protein, offer protection against cataract development by lessening or retarding protein deterioration in the lens brought on by environmental factors. Naturopaths recommend a diet high in fruits and vegetables containing antioxidants such as beta carotene vitamin A, selenium, and vitamin C and E, including citrus fruits, spinach, sweet potatoes, carrots, and broccoli.
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