What is it about ?
The colored part at the front of the eye is called the iris. The iris surrounds an opening: the pupil. The diameter of the pupil varies depending on the amount of light. Behind the pupil is a transparent lens called the crystalline lens. It allows a sharp image to be projected onto the retina at the back of the eye.
In the event of cataract, the lens becomes opaque. This loss of transparency lowers eyesight. If the person sees too badly because of this condition, surgery may be indicated.
Some people have a higher risk of cataracts. Factors like old age, diabetes, being overweight, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, cortisone use, past eye infections or eye injuries increase the risk of cataracts.
What is its frequency?
In each of us, the lens in each eye becomes less transparent over time. Cataracts can already start around the age of 55, but complaints are usually still moderate at that age. Around the age of 75, about 7 in 10 people have cataracts.
How to recognize it?
If you have cataracts, you can see less well and have the following symptoms:
- blurred vision, near and far. Glasses do not correct eyesight,
- change in color vision; sometimes they turn yellowish or brownish,
- you see the contrasts less well,
- Sometimes you see double when you look with one eye.
The perception of a luminous circle (= halo) around light sources (such as car headlights and streetlights) is a typical sign of cataracts. These symptoms can progress quickly (over a few months) or more slowly (over several years). If left unchecked, you can go blind.
How is the diagnosis made?
If you suspect a cataract, the doctor will refer you to the ophthalmologist. It will measure the pressure of what is called “the vitreous body”, it is the viscous liquid inside the eye. He will also examine your pupil and look inside your eye (ophthalmoscopy).
What can you do ?
To avoid cataracts, it is important to adopt a healthy lifestyle. For example, theexcess weight, the excessive consumption of alcohol and the diabetes are important risk factors for developing cataracts. Pay attention to your vision and see a doctor when it gets worse, especially if the problem is progressing relatively quickly.
What can your doctor do?
The treatment of cataracts requires an operation. The need and possibility must be assessed on a case-by-case basis. Sometimes we decide not to operate. This is the case when a pair of glasses is sufficient as a solution or if the doctor considers that the expected benefit of the intervention is not important or even uncertain because of certain very precise factors (for example the presence of other disorders). In some cases, urgent intervention is necessary, for example when you can only see the movements of the hands or the light, when the pupil turns light gray and if the eye pressure is too high.
The operation consists of replacing the crystalline lens with an artificial lens. In general, cataract operations are performed under local anesthesia in an outpatient hospital. If the patient feels after the operation an unpleasant sensation in the eyes (as if there is a foreign object), a decrease in the sight or eye pain, it is necessary to consult the ophthalmologist again.
Eye drops should be used for up to four weeks after the procedure. They contain local antibiotics (to prevent infections) and cortisone (to prevent inflammation). After that, the person is generally well.
Unlike the real crystalline lens, the artificial lens does not automatically correct far or near vision. Glasses are therefore necessary.
If a gradual decrease in vision develops several months or years after the cataract operation without pain, it may be a “secondary cataract”. It is then the lens capsule that becomes opaque. The ophthalmologist can remedy this with laser treatment.
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