The most dangerous disease in ophthalmology is cataract. According to statistics, every 6 people on a planet older than 40 years old are the ones who cause blindness. But what is this disease? What is the reason for its development, what is the classification of cataracts in doctors?
What is this ailment?
Almost every person at least once in his life, but heard about a disease such as cataracts. What is this disease? What are the cataract classifications?
This disease is a clouding of the lens, which negatively affects the quality of vision. If you do not detect the disease on time and do not start treatment, then, as a result, complete blindness occurs.
The eye lens is the organ that is responsible for focusing light rays on the retina. In simple terms, this is a kind of lens, which is located between the iris of the eye and the vitreous body. It is she who refracts and transmits a stream of light rays.
In a young body, the lens has a transparent and elastic structure. It can easily change its shape under the control of the muscles of the eye, adjust the desired sharpness, it is thanks to this that the eye sees perfectly in any direction. But with age, the lens becomes denser, elasticity and transparency go away. It is precisely this state of turbidity that is called cataract.
Depending on the classification, cataract is either complete or partial. It all depends on what area of the lens is cloudy. A clouded organ no longer transmits light rays so well, it interferes with their proper refraction and focusing. As a result, the patient's sharpness decreases, the contours of the objects are no longer so clear, a "veil" appears before the eyes. Gradually, without proper treatment, the disease progresses, and as a result, complete blindness is observed.
Causes of the disease
Before you talk about the symptoms, treatment and prevention of cataracts, the causes must be clarified. What provokes this ailment? To date, the exact cause of cataracts has not been elucidated, but there are several theories that help explain the origin of the disease.
Most specialists are inclined to the theory of free-radical damage to the lens tissue. As a result of this, opaque molecules are formed, which lead to clouding of the tissue. Over time, free radicals accumulate in the human body and negatively affect all organs, including the eyes.
There are several factors that trigger the development of cataracts in the elderly:
- extensive ultraviolet radiation with eye damage;
- a small amount of antioxidants is present in the diet;
- age-related eating disorders of the lens;
- frequent inflammatory processes of the organs of vision: glaucoma, problems with the retina;
- poor nutrition, anemia;
- exposure to the body of toxic substances;
- endocrine system diseases;
- injuries and contusions of the organs of vision;
- uveitis and severe myopia;
- heredity.
In addition, there is congenital cataract. It develops in babies even in the womb, when toxins and infections affected the mother's body.
Classification
This ophthalmic disease is divided into two main types: congenital and acquired.
Classification of cataract by etiology:
- Age.
- Traumatic.
- Complicated.
- Beam.
- Toxic.
- Appear due to systemic diseases, such as diabetes.
Classification of cataracts by localization of turbidity:
- Front polar.
- Back polar.
- Nuclear.
- Spindle-shaped.
- Cortical.
- Complete.
- Layered.
- The back.
As such, there is no classification of cataracts according to visual acuity, however, experts note that this factor also influences the making of an accurate diagnosis. According to the severity of symptoms, the disease is divided into the following stages:
- Initial. The disease begins to develop with hydration of the lens, when a lot of fluid accumulates inside it. It is localized in the cortical layer between the fibers, as a result of which "water gaps" are formed. A little later, if you do nothing, planar opacities of the cortex appear, which are especially pronounced along the edges of the lens and in the equator. Visual acuity is still high - 0.8-1.0.
- Immature This is when the process does not stop progressing, clouding moves throughout the lens capsule. If at the initial stage, the clouding was localized behind the optical zone and did not affect visual acuity, then at this stage the vision is greatly reduced. Visual acuity is reduced to 0.4-0.01.
- Mature. At this stage, the entire area of the lens cortex is already occupied by turbidity, which provokes a complete decrease in visual acuity to the level of light perception.
- Overripe. If treatment is not started, then the further development of cataract is accompanied by the breakdown of the lens fibers and the liquefaction of the cortical substance, and after the capsule of the lens becomes folded. The bark acquires a uniform milky color, the core becomes denser and under its weight falls down, as a result of which the lens resembles a kind of sac. This stage is calledorganic.
The classification of cataracts for doctors is very important, because only after determining the ailment, you can accurately assess the condition of the patient and choose the right method of treatment.
Residual and secondary
Residual cataract is called clouding of the capsule or cloudy remnants of the lens masses that remained after its removal. This situation is also possible after drug treatment of diabetic, hypoparathyroid, post-traumatic cataracts. They are characterized by a decrease in visual acuity.
Secondary cataracts can develop after a certain period of time, for example, a month or even a year after surgery. On the back capsule of the lens, which remains after the operation, various opacities are formed. But today in the world of modern technology, a similar problem can be removed with a laser without resorting to more serious methods.
The first signs of cataracts
At the initial stage, cataracts are very difficult to detect. Blurring appears only on one of the edges of the lens and does not affect visual acuity. Therefore, many people do not even suspect that the disease has already begun to progress. But still there are several signs that will help identify cataracts at an early stage. You can suspect the development of the disease if:
- objects surrounding a person with fuzzy outlines, a double contour is observed;
- bright objects are surrounded by rainbow radiance;
- dark dots appear before the eyes;
- it is difficult to read the small cipher;
- it is difficult to thread the needle.
If at least one of the symptoms described above appears, then you need to immediately consult an ophthalmologist. Now the causes of cataracts are clear. Symptoms, treatment and prevention are described below.
Symptoms of the disease
One of the common symptoms of cataracts is loss of visual acuity. Depending on which part of the lens is clouded (in the center or on the periphery), vision may decrease sharply or remain sharp. If the disease develops on the periphery of the lens, then the patient may not notice that he has become worse at seeing. This type of cataract is most often detected only at a routine examination. The closer to the center there is clouding, the more serious the vision problems.
If opacification develops actively in the central part of the lens, as a result, the patient may appear or, on the contrary, increase myopia. This can explain the fact that people with cataracts often change glasses.
Many patients with cataract age report that their lost ability to read and write at the age of five is inexplicably coming back. But only the contours of objects around are blurred, the image can double. The pupil, which is usually black, may turn yellow or gray. If a swelling cataract develops, then the pupil becomes white.
Patients with cataracts may complain of reduced or, conversely, increased photosensitivity. Often you can hear from such people that their world has dimmed. And on the other hand, intolerance to bright light, better vision in cloudy weather or in the dark are characteristic features for clouding in the central part of the lens. Often, patients with postcapsular cataract complain of such symptoms. All of these symptoms are indications of seeking qualified help. The doctor should classify the cataract by maturity, conduct a thorough examination and choose the right therapy.
Congenital cataract in children can manifest itself in the form of:
- strabismus;
- the presence of a white pupil;
- decreased vision.
If there are such symptoms, then an urgent need to go to a specialist.
Diagnostics
A doctor can make an accurate diagnosis only after a thorough examination. It includes such procedures:
- Visometry will help determine visual acuity using tables;
- perimetry will allow you to explore the space that the eye sees while fixing the gaze;
- tonometry measures fluid pressure inside the organ of vision;
- keratometry will determine the curvature of the cornea;
- electrophysiology helps to measure the threshold of electrical sensitivity and mobility of the optic nerve;
- gonioscopy and tomography will help assess visual potential;
- biomicroscopy evaluates the anterior segment of the eye.
The last procedure described above allows you to examine your eyes using a slit lamp in a dark room. It helps to check the functioning of the eye and the detection of diseases in it. It is with the help of biomicroscopy that it is possible to determine even minor deviations from the norm in the tissue structures, due to which it is possible to identify an ailment at an early stage.
Treatment
Cataracts in both eyes, or just one, require the right treatment. Conservative methods will not give any result. By no means will it be possible to restore the transparency of the lens, although there are drugs that, when used regularly (we are talking about eye drops), will help slow down the progression of the disease. But to completely get rid of the disease will help surgery.
A doctor may recommend a microsurgical operation called cataract extraction. It can be carried out in one of two ways:
- Complete removal of the lens.
- Excision of only the front protective capsule, through which the lens masses are washed. A similar method makes it possible to preserve the posterior capsule, which in most patients with cataracts remains transparent.
The operation of the second type can be carried out in several ways. One of the methods is to produce a 3.5 mm incision, which is given under local anesthesia. It is in it that an ultrasonic tip is introduced, with the help of high-frequency vibrations, the lens substance is sucked out. In the future, the incision is independently sealed.
After surgery, the eye without the lens transmits light freely. But due to the fact that the optical system is defocused, since the refractive power has significantly decreased, the person’s vision drops by 15-18 diopters. A similar problem can be avoided if an artificial lens is implanted in the eye. It is made of different materials, and it has many designs, so picking it up for any patient is not difficult.
This technique is considered modern; it takes no more than 45 minutes of time for an experienced surgeon and has a number of indisputable advantages:
- almost non-traumatic;
- no seams;
- reduces the risk of astigmatism;
- gives a high result of treatment;
- does not require long-term rehabilitation;
- can be applied at an early stage.
But a large foreign body that is in the eye can cause negative consequences:
- irritate the tissue;
- cause allergic reactions;
- lead to the development of inflammation.
In some cases, implantation increases the risk of complications.
Traditional medicine in the treatment of cataracts
Traditional medicine has long been actively used in the treatment of various diseases, cataracts are no exception:
- Honey diluted with water in a ratio of 1: 1 helps very well. With this solution, 2 drops are instilled in the eyes 4 times a day. This method helps only at the initial stage of the disease.
- Here's another way: sprouted potato sprouts well to wash, dry and finely chop. Take 100 g of crushed raw materials, pour 2 tbsp. vodka, leave for 14 days and strain. Drink 1 dessert spoon 3 times a day. If after 90 days a thick and sticky tear comes out of the eye, then the disease goes away.
Do not overly delay the trip to a specialist.
Prevention
The classification of cataracts in population studies has been studied for a long time. Many experts are looking for the most effective methods of treatment and prevention of the disease. But so far there are no effective methods to prevent the development of pathology. Secondary prevention is the early diagnosis and timely treatment of any other eye diseases that can trigger the development of cataracts.
For preventive purposes, it is recommended:
- lead a healthy lifestyle;
- Healthy food;
- Do not stay long in the sun;
- older people after 50 years, once a year to undergo an examination with an ophthalmologist.
Cataracts are a serious disease that requires the right approach. Taking medication will help only at an early stage, and if the ailment is started, then only the operation will relieve it.