An Introduction to Cataracts

Abstract Cataracts will affect almost everyones ken at several(prenominal) point in their aliveness. Some mickle may be able-bodied to deal with the cataracts with glasses while others moldiness assimilate cataract surgical process in order to improve their vision. The paper explains what a cataract is, who it affects, the development of cataract operating theatre lead story to modern day surgical techniques, as well as the possible complications and benefits after cataract operating theater.There was once a time that cataracts ca customd people to wrench what they considered blind, but now with modern technology and modern treat people return the ability to affect with their life with proficient kid adjustments to their daily activities. An Introduction to Cataracts and Cataract Surgery Everyone has different vision, and everyone has different points in their life where they may notice their vision changing. One major medical suss out that flowerpot affect a some bodys vision is a cataract.It is all told-important(a) to understand what a cataract is and who it special Kly impacts, the development of cataract mental process leading to the modern surgical technique, and the possible complications and benefits of having cataract surgery. What is a Cataract and Who is Commonly Impacted? A cataract, simply put, is the cloudiness of the clear born(p) genus Lense in the centre (Buettner, p. 101). People who have cataracts have trouble seeing sharp figures, a great deal times the objects they see atomic number 18 fuzzy or dim. The cataracts do not form suddenly but progress and get more right with time.The natural proteins of the lens begin to deteriorate between the age of 40 and 45 ( newfoundmark, 38). People with cataracts often have trouble driving, difficulty reading, and steady trouble seeing expressions on others faces. Cataracts can in any case cause extreme trouble with sensitivity to sunlight and headlights or streetlights (p. 101). Cataracts materialize with the regular aging sclerosis, as the lens becomes less resilient, less transparent, and thicker (Gordon, p. 50). In The Eye Book cataracts are compared to wrinkles and elderly hair, eventually it is something everyone will get.It just isnt acknowledged until someone has a lot of the above mentioned gray hair and wrinkles (Cassel, p. 128). Most Americans by the age of 65 have some sign of cataracts or clouding of the lens. According to the National Eye Institute, cataracts hand in roughly half of Americans aged 65 and over (Gordon, p. 49). sealed factors can in like manner increase the risk for developing cataracts. The factors include sophisticated age, diabetes, a family history of cataracts, extensive exposure to sunlight, smoking, obesity, high blood pressure, precedent pump injury or inflammation or swelling to the eye (American Academy of Ophthalmology, p. 1).Cataracts are also found to be more exhibit in women than in men, more common in African Americans than in Caucasians, and more common in developing countries along the tropical bang than in the fall in States and Europe (Cassel, p. 132). A recent study also showed that poor nutrition also increased the percentage of cataract formation (Guttman, p. 1). The formation of cataracts can also be advanced by the use of corticosteroid use and excessive alcohol consumption (Buettner, p. 106). It is also worth mentioning that now and again children can be born with cataracts or develop them at a very young age, this is called a Congenital cataract.This can be caused by the mother having German measles during pregnancy, due to a chemical imbalance, or a developmental imbalance. These cataracts are distant quickly if they are heady to be affecting the childs vision (p. 106). If a person truly feels that they do not see to their full potential consequently it is in their best interest to consult with their ophthalmologist and have their vision evaluated to see if surgery would be beneficial. What is the Process of Cataract Surgery? Once the tolerant decides they are ready to pursue cataract surgery a a couple of(prenominal) locomote need to be taken.The uncomplaining of will need to be seen by an ophthalmologist. The patient of will have a dilated eye exam with the relate along with testing prior to surgery. The testing performed is through and through to determine what author of Intraocular lens, or IOL, should be situated in the eye to give the patient to best vision possible. The testing is often called an A-scan or an IOL Master. The patient may also have a Corneal Topography done if they have an astigmia. An astigmia is an irregular shaping of the cornea and the corneal topography is just a picture or mapping of the cornea.The doctor also uses this test when determining which power of lens will be implanted at the time of surgery. Of racecourse forward any surgery can take place the patient must also complete the necessary p aperwork. Cataract surgery used to be a major surgery, an inpatient procedure with general anesthesia and about a week stay in the local hospital (Gordon, p. 59). The procedure itself was some(prenominal) harder on patient. The physician made an surgical incision about a half-inch long, through and through which they removed the cataract and replaced it with a thick glass lens and then by and by an artificial lens (p. 9). Today the procedure is done on an outpatient base of operations under local anesthesia in about thirty minutes. In fact, each year over 1. 5 million cataract surgeries are performed in the United States (p. 49). There two different ways a cataract can be removed, either by extracapsular surgery or phacoemulsification (Kanski, p. 346). Extracapsular surgery became common in the 1980s when IOLs became more widely used (p. 346). The capsular understructure is opened approximately 10 mm and the lens material is removed in one piece.This technique is beneficial for dense and firm cataracts that would be difficult to break up by phacoemulsification, which will be discussed later on (Cassel, p. 150). Once the artificial lens is implanted the incision is stitched. The stitches uncommonly have to be removed, and usually disintegrate over time (Gordon, p. 60). Because the size of the incision on the eye is rather large, repossessing does take a few weeks (p. 60). This type of cataract surgery can also induce significant post- principal investigator astigmatism resulting from the large incision and the need for stitches (Kanski, p. 346).Phacoemulsification is the newest and most common method of cataract line of descent (Gordon, p. 60). The doctor makes a tiny incision, about 3mm long and uses a tool, called a phaco handpiece, that breaks up the solid cataract into tiny pieces using ultrasound. Then a vacuum-clean is used to essentially suck out the tiny fragments of the cataract from the capsule. (Buettner, p. 111). No stitches are needed to close the incision because the incision is so small that the natural pressure within the eye holds the incision tightly closed, and allows the wound to heal quickly (Gordon, pp. 60-61).Another major difference is how the artificial lens is implanted. The lens is actually folded before it is inserted into the capsule and once placed into the capsule it is unfolded. This is done because the incision is so small the unfolded lens wouldnt be able to fit through the opening (p. 61). The smaller incision makes the procedure safer and provides an in the beginning refraction postoperatively (Kanski, pp. 346-347). There is also less risk for fleur-de-lys prolapse (p. 347). Phacoemulsification offers good long-term results and in 97-98 percent of all cases at that place are no complications, when done by a well experienced surgeon (Gordon, p. 1). Following surgery a protective shield is placed over the eye and the patient is sent home with instructions to use postoperative drops to prevent infection and inflammation (p. 67). The patient will stick to up with their doctor the day after surgery and then during the chase 6 weeks to check the eyes heal (Buettner, p. 112). Former restrictions were placed on patients that kept them from bending and lifting are get things of the past. Patients can resume normal activities almost immediately following surgery, of course any activites should be exonerated by the patients physician (Cassel, p. 52). Patients will need to wear dark shades following surgery when they are outdoors in order to turn off the effects of glare (Gordon, p. 67). What are the Complications and Benefits of Surgery? As with any type of surgery there is always risk involved when you have an operative procedure done. Although cataract surgery is one of the lower risk surgeries performed in the United States, there are some complications that should be discussed. Some complications can pass during the surgery and some can happen after the surgery during the healing process.While the physician is extracting the cataract the posterior capsule can rupture (Kanski, p. 349). If this happens the patient can be leave with long term complications including vitreous loss, an up-drawn pupil, uveitis, vitreous touch, vitreous wick syndrome, endophthalmitis, glaucoma, posterior dislocation of the IOL, retinal detachment, and chronic cystoid macular dropsy (p. 349). Another serious risk is dislocation of the IOL after surgery, the IOL can become dislodged into the vitreous cavity and is a result of improper implantation (p. 53). If left untreated it can lead to vitreous hemorrhage, retinal detachment, uveitis, and chronic cystoid macular edema (p. 353). A suprachoroidal hemorrhage is a bleed into the suprachorooidal space which could result in the extrusion of intraocular contents, it is an un apparent complication with the phacoemulsification technique (p. 353). Unfortunately, dislocated IOLs are becoming more frequent with the changing IO L designs and it is necessary that those dislocated lens be addressed immediately for the patients benefit (Rajecki, p. 1).Endophthalmitis is a rare but serious infection, symptoms include vision loss, pain not jutting by OTC pain medications, a significant increase in eye redness, flashes of light or floaters, nausea or vomiting (Buettner, p. 113). Of course the benefits of surgery are very clear. The patients can walk away with meliorate vision and also the possibility of not having to wear glasses. Technology continues to improve and there are multiple lenses for patients to choose from. These lenses offer deluxe options such(prenominal) as correction for astigmatism and multiple focal points.This allows people who have never been able to function without their glasses on to have cataract surgery to live their lives without glasses, and in a true sense live a whole new life The patients that have successful cataract surgery do not regret the choice they made in fact they likely wonder why they waited so long to make the choice to proceed with surgery. They often times say they didnt realize the house was so dirty or they had so many wrinkles until they got home from the cataract surgery. It is clear that cataracts and cataract surgery is a very complicated and detailed subject.It should be very important to the patient that they make a wise decision when it comes to their eyes and the allot they receive. Patients will continue to see ophthalmology care grow and change all the time and it will continue to get better. It is encouraging to see that through time things have only gotten better and more advanced for patient care. References American Academy of Ophthalmology. (2011). Who Is at Risk for Cataracts? Billig, O. D. , Michael, Cassel, M. D. , Gary, Randall, M. D. , Harry. (1998). The Eye Book A Complete Guide to Eye Disorders and Health. Baltimore, MD Johns Hopkins Press. Buettner, M. D. Helmut. (2002). Mayo Clinic on imaging and Eye Health. Rochest er, MNKensington Publishing. Gordon, Sandra. (2001). The Aging Eye. New York, NY Simon & Schuster. Guttman, Cheryl. (2009, October 1). Analyses Examine tie beam Between Risk Factors,Cataracts. Ophthalmology Times. Kanski, Jack J. (2007). Clinical Ophthalmology A Systemic Approach. Philadelphia, PAButterworth, Heinemann, Elsevier. Newmark, M. D. , Emanuel. (2006). Ophthalmic Medical Assisting. San Francisco, CA Essilor Rajecki, Ron. (2008, October 15). Advances in Cataract Surgery Bring New ComplicationsAlong with Benefits. Ophthalmology Times.