In an eye effected by a cataract, the natural lens loses its transparency and turns opaque. An affected person is unable to see clearly and colors become warped. There are multiple factors at work in the development of a cataract but the most commonly occurring type is age related and found in people over 60 years of age. Surgery is the only treatment option available for Cataract. It cannot be cured by medicines or other kinds of non surgical treatments.
Symptoms of Cataract
- Glare is one of the most earliest symptoms of Cataract.
- Cloudy, Fuzzy or Foggy Vision.
- Double Vision.
- Frequent Changes in Eye Glass power.
- Problems during driving at night because the headlight becomes too bright.
- Inability to read even with reading Glasses.
Diagnosis of Cataract
When you experience the above said symptoms, a regular eye examination by an Ophthalmologist is all that is needed to diagnose cataract. Your Ophthalmologist will make you read a Eye Chart, and will also use dialating drops to dialte your pupils. The Ophthalmologist will then decide the extent of the cataract and will advise you accordingly.
Treatment of Cataract
Surgery is the only treatment option available for Cataract. The surgery is simple. The catractous lens is removed using ultrasonic energy ( Phacoemulsification) and is replaced by a artificial lens called as Intra Ocular Lens. Cataract surgery is not an Emergency at all. Just because you have a cataract doesent mean that it has to be operated. Surgery is done only when the cataract interferes with your vision and daily activities.
Sometimes the Ophthalmologist will advise immediate surgery, if he feels that the cataract has to be removed to treat a condition in the retina of the eye, or if the Cataract is so large that it can cause blindness if not treated immediately.
How to decide when to have cataract surgery?
You have plenty of time to decide when you want to have cataract surgery depending on your convenience. If the cataract interferes with your daily activities, and you have symptoms such as Glare, Double Vision, Foggy Vision etc, then you can decide to have surgery.
Is Cataract Surgery Safe?
Cataract is one of the most commonest surgeries done worldwide, and has a very high success rate of 98%. Most of the patients with normal eyes recover vision the next day after surgery. Your Doctor will advise you regarding medications to be used for surgery and also regarding post operative care.
Feel free to ask your Ophthalmologist and the Counsellor as many questions as possible regarding surgery.
Read the section on Phacoemulsification Cataract Surgery to know about the modern Cataract surgery procedures available.
Normal Eye Cataract Eye
Glaucoma is a disease called as “ Silent Thief” of Vision. It's a disease which has no signs and symptoms in the earlier stages. Just like we have blood pressure, the eye also has Intra Ocular pressure. When the Intra Ocular pressure increases this disease is called as Glaucoma.
Glaucoma affects 2-3% of the population over the age of 40 years. In order to prevent Glaucoma, everyone over the age of 40 years have to get their eye pressure checked by a qualified Ophthalmologist annually.
There are two types of Glaucoma
Open Angle Type.
Angle Closure Type.
Open Angle Glaucoma is quite common compared to the Angle Closure type.
Symptoms
Open angle glaucoma produces almost no symptoms until it is at an advanced stage. By this time, much of the outer (peripheral) field of vision has been lost, and the optic nerve may have been damaged. Many people do not notice a problem with their vision until this point, or assume a poor vision is part of getting older.
The symptoms of acute glaucoma are more severe, and include the following:
painful, red eye;
eyeball that is hard and sore to the touch;
enlarged pupil that is oval in shape;
vision is misty, and you may see halos around sources of light.
Diagnosis of Glaucoma
Your Ophthalmologist would do these basic tests to Diagnose Glaucoma:
1) Tonometry: It’s the measurement of Intra Ocular Pressure using a device called as Tonometer.
Normally your eye pressure should be less than 20 mm Hg, when it exceeds 20 you will be suspected to have Glaucoma.
2) Ophthalmoscopy: When the pressure inside the eye increases, the Optic nerve gets damaged. The Ophthalmologist will determine the extent of damage using a instrument called as Ophthalmoscope.
3) Visual Field Analysis: This test looks for missing areas of vision. A sequence of spots of lights is shown, and you will be asked which ones you can see. If you are found to have glaucoma, your Ophthalmologist will advise accordingly.
4) OCT: Optical Coherance Tomography is the latest in the diagnosis of Glaucoma. This test uses laser beams to analyse the exact thickness of Optic Nerve.
Once you are diagnosed to have glaucoma based on the above tests, your Ophthalmologist will decide on treatment which can be
1) Medications ( Eye Drops) either single or in combination.
2) Laser treatment ( Depending on the type of Glaucoma you have)
3) Surgical treatment : This is the last resort if the intra ocular pressure is not getting under control with either medications or laser treatment.
Optic Nerve Damage in Glaucoma
Vision in Glaucoma
Diabetic Retinopathy
Diabetic Retinopathy is one of the most common retinal diseases. India has the largest number of Diabetics in the world and will soon be called the “ Diabetic Capital “ of the world. Diabetic retinopathy is one of the most common causes of blindness in India. Retinopathy means damage to the tiny blood vessels (capillaries) that nourish the retina, the tissues in the back of the eye that deal with light. Damage to these vessels causes blood leakage (haemorrhage), which may be small and confined to the retina, or may extend forward into the jelly that fills the main cavity of the eye (the vitreous gel). This can seriously affect your vision.
Another feature of diabetic retinopathy is that new, fragile blood vessels grow on the surface of the retina, particularly around the head of the optic nerve (the optic disc). These new vessels bleed easily.
Symptoms
Retinopathy is painless, but sometimes it can cause sudden blindness. Other symptoms are
1) Floaters in the vision.
2) Blurred Vision, Loss of Vision.
3) Poor vision during night time.
4) Sudden Loss of Vision.
5) Loss of Near Vision.
6) Flashes of Light, and sensation of a curtain falling in front of the eye. ( Retinal Detachment).
Increased Risk for Diabetic Retinopathy
1) Long duration of Diabetes.
2) High Blood Cholesterol.
3) Higher Levels of blood sugar and insulin dependance.
4) Pregnancy.
5) Increased Protein Levels in Urine, High Blood Pressure.
Diagnosis of Diabetic Retinopathy
Its very important for all Diabetics to have a regular eye check with an Ophthalmologist once every year. The Ophthalmologist will apply dialating drops to dialte your eyes and examine the retina in detail through:
1) Direct Ophthalmoscopy.
2) Indirect Ophthalmoscopy.
If there are signs of Diabetic Retinopathy, your Ophthalmologist will do other tests such as
1) Fundus Fluorescein Angiography: This test involves injecting a dye into your veins and examination of the retina for any leakage of the dye.
2) Optical Coherance Tomography ( OCT): OCT is the latest diagnostic modality for Diabetic Retinopathy. The OCT uses a laser to analyse the deeper layers of the retina and diagnose macular oedema in Retinopathy.
Treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy
The most common treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy is Laser. If Laser treatment does not work, then Retina or Vitreous Surgery may be performed . Injection of Anti Vegf Agents into the eye is the new modality of Treatment for Diabetic Retinopathy.
- Macular Degeneration
- Retinal Detachment(tears)
- Internal eye bleeding – retinal bleeding
- Retinal disease due to Uveitis and Behçet’s disease
- Internal eye inflammation
Cornea is a transparent tissue located in the front of the eye and is the most important refraction lens of an eye. The transparency of the cornea can be damaged due to a lot of diseases. These diseases can be from birth, genetic or microbial. Diseases like Keratoconus can change the shape of the cornea.
