The phenomenon of white water (cataract), how does it occur? How can they be treated? Are modern methods of treatment different from traditional methods?
What is cataract (white water)?
Cataract is a condition where the lens of the eye becomes dull, rather than transparent, as it must be in normal condition. Also, the eye lens, in its normal state, is located behind the pupil, which is responsible for focusing light rays and breaking them (accurately) into the center of the retina.
Cataract Symptoms
Rapid change in eyeglass lenses: In the early stages, the patient observes that he needs to change his glasses more frequently than before, sometimes within several months.
A sense of lack of light or that the colors are dim.
Visualization: especially when exposed to strong sunlight or during driving at night.
Increased blurring of vision: even when glasses are updated and adjusted.
The patient feels that he sees through a curtain or a white glass.
Causes of Cataract (White Water)
Age: The lens of the eye begins to become turbid, gradually, with age in all people, but the period age group characterized by this turbidity is between the ages of 55 - 80 years. Turmeric is the most common cause of white water in the eyes. It is similar in principle to gray hair in the head.
Prolonged exposure to sunlight.
Family Background: Genetic factors in the family may cause cataracts at an earlier age than is expected.
Diseases: Diabetes may lead to white water (cataract) at a relatively early age.
Inflammation of the inside of the eye, such as Uveitis.
Some medications, especially from the family of steroids.
Shock and injury in the head and face area, especially the direct strike of the eye, as may occur in traffic accidents and sports, for example.
Exposure to radiation in the head and face area.
Congenital anomalies, genetic defects or congenital diseases associated with metabolic dysfunction (metabolism).
When should cataract surgery be performed?
In the past, when the operation required a long recovery period and involved many complications and complications, it was usual to wait until the maturity of the state of white water (cataract), where there is a complete vision in the eye because of turbidity. The assessment of visual acuity was based on the ability to count the fingers and sometimes just the sense of light.
Today, in the era of modern surgery, it is preferable to perform surgery at the moment when white water causes a major disturbance in everyday tasks such as driving, reading or watching television. This procedure is particularly urgent when there is no possibility of correcting the vision through glasses. Visibility - A vision of 12/6 and more with deformation, double vision, shadows around the image or dazzling vision at night driving - adversely affects the functioning of the active person, which justify the operation.
Should you wait until cataract maturation?
The answer is: No, absolutely!
The white water surgery in the eye is performed today in outpatients (without having to stay in the hospital), under local anesthesia with a small wound. The success rate is about 95% and healing is fast, usually.
On the other hand, modern surgery (called ultrasound) called phacoemulsification requires conditions that are not sometimes available in mature cataract, in terms of the hardness of the lens and the strength of the ligaments held by the Zonules.
Most often, mature white water surgery requires a larger incision, stitches, complications and complications, and longer healing.
This is particularly true when the eye is infected with other diseases, such as glaucoma, diabetes, corneal turbidity and the difficulty of dilating the pupil.
