Millions of people all over the world suffer from serious eye pathologies, including complete blindness and partial visual impairment due to glaucoma, myopia and hyperopia, astigmatism, and cataracts. Traumatic cataract is one of the most common causes of damage to organs of vision as a result of mechanical damage. This pathology will be discussed in the article.
What is a traumatic cataract
Cataract is a disease that is characterized by clouding of the lens (natural lens) of the eye. The disease is one of the most common ophthalmic pathologies, so the problem is constantly being studied, the causes and methods of cataract treatment are determined. One of the causes of pathology is a wound or contusion of the organ of vision, as a result of which a traumatic cataract of the eye develops.
More than 70% of patients are at risk of becoming blind in one or both eyes due to the rapid development of pathology. Therefore, if you suspect eye problems, you should immediately contact an ophthalmologist.
ICD-10 disease code
ICD-10 is a regulatory document whose full name sounds like the International Classification of Diseases, revised and supplemented for the tenth time.
The purpose of this classification is to provide everyone with access to information about diseases, their symptoms, treatment methods, and possible consequences.
As for traumatic cataracts, according to ICD-10, this disease is assigned the code H26.1. Information about the disease is located in grade 7, which contains eye diseases, in block H25-H28, which corresponds to lens diseases.
As in the case of other pathologies, for people with traumatic cataracts, the ICD provides information on treatment methods. According to information from this document, there are drugs that can stop the development of the disease and allow you to live without surgery for many years without loss of vision.
Varieties of Post-Traumatic Cataract
Depending on the type of injury received, after which cataract develops, several of its varieties are distinguished.
Types of post-traumatic cataract, depending on its cause:
- concussion - the disease appears as a result of blunt trauma to the eye;
- wound - if a penetrating wound of the eye occurs , it can also lead to rapidly progressing ocular pathology;
- chemical - occurs as a result of contact with the eyes or the body as a whole of toxic substances;
- production - eye injuries in the workplace - a frequent case for welders, people working in hot shops;
- radiation - may occur after a high dose of radiation.
Types of the disease, determined by the rate of its development:
- non-progressive;
- slowly developing;
- fast progressing.
Classification according to the degree of destruction of the lens:
- with a violation of the integrity of the lens capsule;
- lens capsule preserved;
- complete damage to the lens.
Also, after an injury, a foreign body may remain in the eye, which will continue to further damage the lens and provoke the development of pathology.
The prognosis for the occurrence of traumatic cataracts is all the more favorable, the faster the victim goes to the doctor. If the eye is slightly damaged, over time, the problem can be resolved on its own.
Symptoms of the disease
In order not to miss the time and get timely medical care, it is important to know the main signs of traumatic cataract.
Symptoms of pathology:
- decreased quality of vision, especially in the dark;
- before the eyes appear nonexistent dots, stripes;
- photophobia, especially intolerant of bright light;
- problems with the implementation of actions requiring special concentration (reading, embroidery);
- lack of perception of some colors;
- double vision, blurred eyes;
- pupil color changes from black to gray, sometimes almost white.
With any of these signs, the patient should not have doubts about how to act with traumatic cataract - the only right decision will be to consult an ophthalmologist.
Establishing diagnosis
After seeking medical help, the primary task of physicians is to confirm or refute the alleged diagnosis.
Diagnostic methods for traumatic cataract:
- interrogation of the patient - the doctor must understand which incident preceded the onset of the disease;
- history study - to make sure that the cataract is just acquired traumatic in nature, the doctor must exclude other possible causes of the appearance of pathology;
- ophthalmoscopy - an examination of the fundus through a slit lamp;
- scanning by ultrasound;
- inspection in transmitted light;
- Visometry - measurement of visual acuity;
- biomicroscopic method - the study of the structure of the eyes;
- perimetry - a study of the field of view;
- tonometry - measurement of IOP (intraocular pressure);
- phosphene - recognition of the electrical sensitivity of the eye retina.
After making an accurate diagnosis, treatment will be prescribed, which almost always consists in a surgical operation.
Drug treatment
Treatment of traumatic cataract with the use of eye drops and drugs used by mouth cannot guarantee complete elimination of the pathology. Such treatment is permissible only in the early stages of the disease or is used during the selection of the optimal method of surgical intervention, as well as in the case of a patient's categorical refusal from surgery.
Among the drugs used to stop the progress of cataracts are the following:
- Quinax
- Oftan-Katahrom;
- Taufon;
- "Vice";
- "Vita-Yodurol."
Do not be guided by this list for self-medication - lost time without the help of specialists can cost a person with a cataract, vision.
ethnoscience
There are folk methods to stop the rapid development of traumatic cataracts.
Cataract recipes:
- Infusion of potato sprouts on vodka. A composition is prepared at the rate of 5-6 tablespoons of sprouts per 0.5 l of vodka. Leave in a dark place for 2 weeks. Use the drug three times a day for 1 spoon for 3 months.
- A mixture of walnuts and sunflower oil. The crushed kernels are poured with oil in a ratio of 1:10. Let it brew for 5-7 days. Instill 2 drops 3 times a day in the affected eye.
- Infusion of calendula flowers (15 g per 0.5 l of boiling water) can be used both inside and rinse your eyes.
- Blueberry juice, diluted with water 1: 2, is instilled into the eyes 1 time per day, the duration of therapy is at least a month.
- Honey (1: 3), diluted with water, gives a positive result when instilled into the eyes drop by drop for 30 days.
Aloe juice and tincture of peony leaves are also used to combat cataracts, and positive dynamics are often observed when eating certain foods (for example, buckwheat). But it must be remembered that the main form of treatment for traumatic cataract is surgical intervention, and prolonged self-treatment with folk remedies makes the prognosis of this disease unfavorable.
Surgical intervention
In modern medicine, phacoemulsification is used - a type of surgical intervention in which the affected lens is removed and an artificial lens is placed in its place, fully fulfilling its functions.
The advantages of this type of operation:
- minimal invasiveness;
- seamless conduct (micro incision is tightened independently);
- holding in 1 day;
- exercise with a minimum of anesthesia (local anesthesia is used).
Modern technology allows not only to get rid of traumatic cataracts, but also to eliminate glaucoma in parallel. After replacing a damaged lens, laser vision correction is permissible to fully restore the quality of life.
Surgery is the only method that allows you to completely get rid of traumatic cataract, in contrast to drug treatment, which only slows down its development.
Postoperative Recovery
Many patients refuse to perform cataract surgery because they are afraid of a relapse of the disease. This is a false opinion - an artificial implant is installed once, there are no problems with it.
In addition, the very day after the operation, the patient can return to a full life (read, sew, watch TV, work on the computer).
The only recommendation for people with a removed cataract is regular examinations by an ophthalmologist to exclude the occurrence of retinal pathologies.