Cataracts are a dangerous, slowly developing disease characterized by clouding of the eye lens, resulting in visual impairment. In the absence of treatment for people faced with this disease, such an outcome is inevitable, since it is the lens that is responsible for the ability to see. Most often, older people over 60 suffer from cataracts. But regardless of age, the first question of patients in ophthalmologic clinics is whether cataracts can be cured without surgery.
Types of disease
This eye disease has been known since ancient Greece, where it got its name - the Greek word katarrhaktes in translation means "waterfall", by analogy with the shroud that covers the eye affected by the disease. Since those distant times, medical scientists are constantly studying the disease, looking for ways to treat and prevent it, find out the causes and distinguish various types.
Types of pathology:
- Congenital It makes up half of all visual defects that a baby experiences right after birth.
- Beam. It arises as a result of ionizing radiation.
- Complicated. In addition to cataracts, the patient has concomitant eye diseases (glaucoma, myopia, retinal degeneration).
- Traumatic. It develops as a result of an eye injury.
- Age. It is characteristic of older people. According to statistics, about 80% of cases occur in people older than 70 years.
The following types of cataract are distinguished depending on the neglect of the disease:
- initial - slight clouding of individual sections of the lens;
- immature - the clouding becomes noticeable, the quality of vision worsens, the pressure inside the eye rises;
- mature - characterized by complete clouding of the lens and almost complete loss of vision;
- lens dilution - severe visual impairment with possible temporary improvements.
Another classification of the types of this disease is based on the location of the cloudiness:
- front
- back;
- nuclear;
- cortical;
- total.
If the ophthalmologist has diagnosed cataracts, the patient will first of all be interested in whether cataracts can be treated without surgery, and if so, how. To understand the methods of treatment, you first need to familiarize yourself with the causes of the disease.
Causes of the defect
Speaking about the causes of this disease, it is necessary to take into account the features of each of its species.
So, the following factors can lead to congenital cataracts:
- infectious diseases, such as toxoplasmosis, rubella, suffered by a pregnant woman in the 1st trimester;
- radiation exposure of the expectant mother;
- pregnant women taking potent medicines;
- bad habits during pregnancy.
Traumatic cataract occurs as a result of mechanical damage to the lens. Age-related is a consequence of the body's natural aging. Radiation appears if a person is exposed to ionizing radiation.
Common factors contributing to the onset of the disease include:
- negative environmental impact;
- concomitant serious illnesses (e.g., diabetes mellitus);
- hormonal disorders;
- lack of vitamins and minerals necessary for the body;
- prolonged exposure to high temperatures.
If it is impossible to influence the causes of congenital pathology, then changing the lifestyle to avoid health problems is a completely feasible task.
Symptoms of lens opacities
When answering the question of whether it is possible to cure cataracts without surgery, it is worth considering that the chances of this are greater the sooner the patient consults a doctor. To get timely help, you can not ignore the first signs of the disease.
Symptoms of a cataract:
- vague visibility of objects at any distance, even glasses do not add clarity;
- if you close one eye, you feel a double vision in the open (a symptom is characteristic of the first stage of the disease);
- flashes of light disturb (mainly at night);
- the colors of the surrounding objects (especially the blue palette) fade;
- photosensitivity;
- rapid visual impairment;
- the appearance of ghosting around luminous objects;
- gray or white clouded areas of the eye (typical of the elderly).
Diagnosis of eye disease
When diagnosed with cataracts, the patient’s vision is completely dependent on timely diagnosis and treatment. After going to the doctor, a series of manipulations will be performed to confirm or refute the conclusion.
Diagnostic methods used:
- fundus examination to identify possible clouding and other changes;
- ophthalmoscopy - examination of the eye from the inside with an examination of the fundus;
- biomicroscopy, or microscopy of a living eye, - examination with a slit lamp.
Drug treatment
To answer whether it is possible to cure cataracts without surgery and than, only a qualified doctor can. After a thorough examination and confirmation of the diagnosis, the doctor will evaluate the advisability of conservative treatment.
Medicines for the treatment of cataracts:
- Drops containing vitamin complexes and nicotinic acid in their composition.
- Drops rich in various trace elements: zinc, potassium, magnesium, calcium, cysteine.
- Tableted vitamin complexes to strengthen the body.
- Methyluracil. Due to its main action - improving the process of tissue regeneration - this drug helps to restore the lens of the eye. The substance can either be part of the eye drops, or be taken orally in the form of tablets.
On the question of whether it is possible to cure cataracts without surgery, patient reviews are rather contradictory. Doctors are inclined to believe that this is possible in the early stages of the disease. If we are talking about running conditions, unfortunately, surgical intervention can not be avoided.
Getting rid of cataracts using traditional medicine
Cataract is a very serious disease, therefore it is not recommended to self-medicate. After consulting with a doctor, you can try the advice of traditional medicine, because many are willing to argue with professionals whether it is possible to cure cataracts without folk remedies.
Traditional medicine recommends against cataracts:
- Drops containing honey. Dilute honey with boiled water, drip 2 drops in each eye up to 3 times a day.
- Drops with wood lice juice. Mix the juice of this plant with water in a ratio of 1: 1, drip into the affected eye no more than 5 times a day.
- Blueberry juice mixed with water 1: 2, instill in the eyes 1 time per day.
- Compresses with eyebright. Make tincture at the rate of 3 teaspoons of medicinal herbs for 2 cups boiling water. Cool and make lotions to the eyes.
- Drops from onions. Mix the juice of one medium onion 1: 1 with water, and dig in the eyes daily.
- Dill or fennel. These plants are used in the case of the initial stage of lens opacity. Put the crushed seeds in bags, drop them into boiling water. After extracting the liquid from them, drip into the eyes affected by cataracts.
Means made from herbs and regular foods can stop the progress of the disease in the early stages. If we are talking about a mature form of the disease, the question is whether cataracts can be cured without surgery by folk remedies, the patient reviews, as well as the opinions of doctors, are negative.
Eye exercises
Along with medical and folk remedies for cataract treatment, simple but effective eye exercises are often used.
Gymnastics from cataracts:
- Eyeball massage. Close your eyes, perform 15-20 circular movements with your thumbs.
- Massage of eyebrows and eyebrows.
- Acupressure around the orbit.
- Rotation of the eyeballs in different directions (the eyes are closed).
- Drawing with eyes. Close your eyes, imagine a well-known object, draw its outline with eyeballs.
If doubts arise as a result of treatment, whether it is possible to cure cataracts without surgery, it is realistic, but it is worth approaching the solution of the problem comprehensively: adhere to the recommendations of specialists, apply medicines and folk remedies, and also regularly do exercises for the eyes.
Possible complications
Any disease that has not received proper treatment is fraught with complications. If you ignore the symptoms of cataracts, there is a danger that it will entail serious consequences.
Cataract Complications:
- complete blindness;
- displacement or detachment of the lens with subsequent removal;
- phacolytic iridocyclitis is an inflammatory process in the iris and ciliary body;
- glaucoma;
- retinal atrophy, or obstructive amblyopia;
- retinal detachment.
You can’t decide for yourself whether cataracts can be cured without surgery and with what, since self-medication can cause complications.
Cataract Prevention
Preventive measures for this disease concern both the whole organism and the eye itself.
To avoid eye problems, you must:
- lead a healthy lifestyle - eat right, spend time in the fresh air;
- to refuse from bad habits;
- do sport;
- protect your eyes from direct sunlight;
- do preventive exercises for the eyes, head massage;
- observe personal hygiene;
- include foods rich in vitamins and minerals in the diet, in case of deficiency take vitamin complexes.
Observing all precautions, you won’t have to wonder if cataracts can be cured without surgery. After all, any disease is easier to prevent than to treat.