Cataract, a cloudy Situation
December 5th 2007 -
There are many myths surrounding cataract. Patient gives you a proper analysis of the disease that’s so common among. There are a variety of reasons due to which a person can develop cataracts, including long-term ultraviolet exposure, exposure to radiation, secondary effects of diseases such as diabetes, and advanced age; they are usually a result of denaturation of lens proteins. Family history may also play a role because of which a person can get cataracts at an earlier age. It may also be due to an eye injury or physical trauma. Cataracts may be partial or complete, stationary or progressive, hard or soft. There are various types of cataracts — nuclear, cortical, mature, hypermature. Dr Cyres Mehta answers some of the frequently asked questions by people suffering from cataract.
What is cataract? Is it white water or a pearl in the eye?
Cataract is nothing but clouding of the lens in the eye. The protein in the human lens (just like a camera lens) coagulates and denatures. A good example is clear egg white which becomes white when exposed to heat. Captivated by the white pearly appearance of the lens, ancient doctors named this ‘motia’ or pearl. Incidentally, the Arabic word for cataract is Mai Abiyat or white water, which is an accurate description.
Does cataract occur only in old people?
Cataract can occur at any age! It can occur in newborn babies as well, due to infections like rubella. The mother can contract the disease while the baby is in the womb due to metabolic disorders like galactosemia. Those taking medicines like steroids, undergoing radiation for cancer and working in a steel mill where the eye is exposed to infrared rays can also suffer from cataract. Finally, any blow to the eye usually results in cataract.
Can cataract be cured by eyedrops?
To make a quick buck, non-medical practitioners float the idea of miracle eyedrops which will dissolve the cataract. They put dilating drops in the eye, which allows more light to enter the eye. The person sees marginally better for a few hours in some cases. The truth is that it’s an irreversible chemical reaction that can only be treated by surgery.
Should cataract operations be avoided in summer?
In the olden days, after a cataract operation, the patient’s head was immobilised between sandbags and he was not allowed to turn or move for a month. Naturally, summer was a bad idea as the patient could not take a bath for a month. Today, the cataract can be removed through an incision as small as 0..7 mm and the person is mobile instantly.
I will get a big painful injection before surgery?
Just eye drops are put on the eye and the patient is conscious during surgery, and feels no pain, only a little pressure at times.
Will the lens that’s put in the eye be removed?
The lenses today are injected into the eye through a two mm tunnel which seals instantly and needs no stitches. The lenses are made of acrylic plastic which does not react with the body and theoretically should last much longer than the patient. Lenses implanted even 30 years ago show no sign of ageing.
Will the patient have to wear spectacles for reading after surgery?
Modern lenses can be of multi-focal design. So, the patient need not wear spectacles for reading.
Will the patient have to be housebound for a month?
As the small opening seals instantly, the person can go back to normal life. This naturally depends from case to case and is best decided by the surgeon.