Cataract Symptoms

If you are between the ages of 40 and 60 and are experiencing blurred or cloudy vision, you may be suffering from cataracts or cataracts in the eye. It is a common condition in the elderly, but it can also affect young people, as a result of taking some medications or due to genetic conditions in addition to several other reasons. Here we will learn about the symptoms of cataracts and their treatment in the eye, and we will know together whether cataracts can be treated without surgery.

What are cataracts?

Cataracts or cataracts occur when the lens in the eye becomes cloudy and its color changes from black to white.

In the normal state, light passes through a clear lens behind the iris of the eye. The lens focuses the light so that your mind and eye can work together to process the information in an image.

When cataracts occur, the eye cannot focus the light, which leads to blurred vision.

Cataracts usually occur around the age of 40, but symptoms may not appear until after the age of 60.

Cataracts can occur in both eyes, but the condition in one eye may be worse than the other.

What are the causes of cataracts?

The lens of the eye is made up of water and proteins. When proteins break down over time, the trapped proteins make the lens of the eye cloudy, making it difficult to see clearly.

Some reasons can speed up the formation of cataracts and cataracts:

• Diabetes
• Taking some medications to treat conditions such as arthritis and lupus
• Phenothiazine drugs such as chlorpromazine are used to treat a variety of conditions such as schizophrenia and bipolar disorder
• Eye surgery or eye injuries
• Radiation therapy to the upper body
• Direct exposure to the sun without eye protection, such as sunglasses

What are the symptoms of cataracts on the eye?

Cataracts or cataracts are common with age and aging, and the most important symptoms of cataracts are:

• Blurred or cloudy vision
• Sensitivity to bright sunlight
• Seeing halos around lights, especially when driving at night with approaching headlights
• Changes in vision measurement due to sudden myopia
• Double vision
• The need for strong light for reading
• Weak night vision
• Changes in color vision

Can cataracts be treated without surgery?

In most cases, cataracts cannot be treated without surgery. However, some treatments can help to slow down the progression of cataracts, such as:

• Taking antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E
• Wearing sunglasses to protect your eyes from the sun
• Quitting smoking

If you are experiencing symptoms of cataracts, it is important to see an eye doctor as soon as possible. The doctor can diagnose the cataracts and recommend the best course of treatment.

Cataract surgery

Cataract surgery is a safe and effective procedure that can restore clear vision. The surgery usually takes about 30 minutes and is performed under local anesthesia.

During the surgery, the surgeon removes the cloudy lens and replaces it with a clear artificial lens. The artificial lens is designed to last for many years.

Most people who have cataract surgery experience a significant improvement in vision immediately after the surgery. However, it may take some time for the vision to fully recover.

How do the symptoms of cataracts appear in the eye?

1. Cataracts start small and may have a small initial impact on vision, which may be slightly blurry. Three main types of cataracts affect different parts of the lens:

• Posterior cataract
• Nuclear cataract in the center of the lens
• Cortical cataract on the side of the lens, which appears as small lines.

2. The cataract increases and a yellow or brown tint begins to appear. This affects night vision and makes some night activities such as driving more difficult.
3. Sensitivity to light increases with the development of the condition, which is a common symptom of cataracts. The glare of bright lights can be painful, especially for those with posterior cataracts.
4. The formation of cataracts on the lens can cause the light that enters the eye to be deflected. This can cause halos to appear around light sources. These halos may be of various colors, making driving at night very difficult.
5. With the development of the condition and the appearance of the previous symptoms of cataracts, the patient needs stronger glasses or lenses due to the rapid change in vision measurements.
6. With advanced cataract cases, the protein clumps that cover the lens may turn yellow or brown. This results in all the light that enters the eye being dyed with a yellow tint, and it looks like you are wearing sunglasses, which changes the way you see colors and reduces the ability to distinguish between colors.
7. The deviation resulting from the formation of cataracts on the eye in cataracts can lead to seeing two or more images of objects.

Are cataracts painful?

Cataracts do not usually cause pain, but they can cause discomfort due to the eye being more sensitive to light.

What is the treatment for cataracts in the eye?

If the symptoms of cataracts in the eye are mild, cataracts in the eye can be treated without surgery and only need to change the size of the glasses or contact lenses. However, the symptoms of cataracts may worsen over time and eventually, the doctor will recommend surgery.

How to treat cataracts surgically

The surgeon removes the cloudy lens and replaces it with an artificial lens. The new lens is clear and customized to your visual needs. The procedure to remove cataracts from the eye takes about an hour and is done using local anesthesia, which means the patient is awake, but will not feel or see the procedure.

Is cataract surgery safe?

Cataract surgery is one of the safest eye surgical procedures and the risk of any complications is reduced, especially when the surgery is performed with a doctor with good surgical experience.

Does vision improve after cataract surgery?

Some blurring may occur for a few days after cataract removal, but vision improves within the first weeks after the procedure. 90% of people see better after cataract treatment in the eye, but you may need to wear glasses or contact lenses after surgery.

Do you need cataract surgery again in the future?

In some rare cases, secondary cataracts can occur. Cataracts accumulate on the surface of the artificial lens after weeks, months, or years of surgery. Secondary cataract is repaired through a quick laser surgery, which takes only 5 minutes. The ophthalmologist uses a laser to create an opening in the lens to allow light to pass through again, and vision improves within 24 hours after the procedure.

In conclusion, cataract disease can cause major vision changes. Cataracts do not only occur in the elderly, but they can also affect young people, due to taking certain medications or due to genetic conditions. Vision changes can also be due to several other reasons besides cataracts; therefore, you should visit Dr. Osama Abdel Hakim, Consultant of Ophthalmology and Eye Surgery, to discuss sudden changes in vision and any other symptoms you may be experiencing.

Now, learn more about the symptoms of cataracts in the eye and its treatment, and request a consultation with Dr. Osama Hakim, Consultant of Ophthalmology and Eye Surgery, and surgeries for strabismus, eyelids, and lacrimal duct at the Moroccan Eye Hospital in Dubai and founder and director of the Medical Center for Eyes in Egypt.