The eyes are the window of the mind and a necessary way to perceive the world. However, as we age, or do not pay attention to eye care, it can lead to a gradual deterioration of vision. Many middle-aged and elderly people will feel that they are blurry and mistakenly think that they are presbyopia, until their vision is seriously reduced, and they are diagnosed as cataracts when they go to the hospital for examination. Cataracts, which affect 20 million people worldwide, may miss the chance to see the light again if the timing of treatment is delayed. So, how to identify cataracts early? If I have a cataract, what do I need to pay attention to? Let's solve your doubts now.
Cataracts, which are visual impairments caused by cloudy lens formations, are also the no. 1 blinding eye disease among our compatriots and in the world. The lens, in the eye plays the role of optical lens, if the lens appears protein denaturation, the original transparent lens will become cloudy, become milky white or brown-black, so that light can not pass through the lens smoothly, resulting in vision loss, or even blindness.
The molecular mechanism of cataract formation has been revealed by scientific research. In 2013, researchers at the University of California confirmed through research that the human lens contains 3 proteins that maintain the transparency of the lens by finely adjusting between reflection and absorption of light. Of these 3 proteins, 2 are structural and the other is a chaperone that keeps and inhibits the first 2 proteins from agglutination. If the 2 structural proteins change due to genetics, ultraviolet damage, aging, local trophic disorders, immune and metabolic abnormalities, trauma, poisoning, radiation, etc., beyond the regulatory range of the molecular partner, agglutination will occur and cataracts will be formed. Therefore, cataracts are not geriatric diseases, but can occur at any age, but with age, the incidence will increase significantly.
Cataracts, which bring about changes in vision, have 6 early signals. The first signal is that the vision is blurred, or the sensitivity to brightness and color is reduced. The second signal is diplopia, when looking at something, there are double or multiple shadows. The third signal is rainbow vision, which is a color vision abnormality, feeling that there is a color halo around the light you see. The fourth signal is that day or night blindness occurs, and vision becomes worse during the day or at night. The fifth signal is the appearance of a shadow, a fixed position in front of the eye, with a dot-like or flaky shadow of unchanged shape. The sixth signal is that there is a change in vision, a gradual decrease in vision, and, moreover, no pain or redness of the eyes.
Cataracts, as long as professional examinations are carried out, can be diagnosed in a timely manner. Currently, there is no reliable scientific evidence that any drug can treat cataracts or control the progression of the disease. Therefore, surgery is the main treatment. Now, intraocular lens implantation is generally recommended. In this method, the operation time is shorter, the tissue damage is less, and the vision is restored quickly.
Having a cataract and promptly performing surgery can not only save vision, but also bring other health benefits. For example, in March 2021, Japanese scholars conducted a randomized experimental study. The results showed that after treating cataracts by surgical methods, melatonin secretion could be increased. Melatonin is a hormone secreted by the pineal gland that can improve sleep quality, adjust jet lag, and if melatonin secretion is abnormal, it may lead to an increased risk of depression, diabetes, cognitive impairment, breast cancer and other diseases. Therefore, after the cataract is cured, melatonin secretion returns to normal, the patient's sleep quality improves, and the risk of related diseases is reduced.
Surgical treatment of cataracts may bring associated problems. For example, if you have floaters, the sensation of floaters is more pronounced after surgery because the light occlusion caused by the opacification of the lens is removed, and the feeling of floaters is usually not required. Some patients may feel that it is not clear after surgery, because the intraocular lens itself does not have the function of regulation, so it is clearer to see the distance and the near place to be blurred, which can be solved by refraction and glasses 3 months after surgery. In addition, about 30% of patients may develop dry eye after surgery, which can be relieved with artificial tear fluid. In short, cataract surgery, simple and safe, if you find early signals through self-testing, you should seek medical examination in time, and after diagnosis, you should hurry up and do surgery.
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Your health, my concern. Professionals observe health from a scientific and humanistic perspective, including a series of express reports, details, reminders, doubts, observations, opinions, historical stories, etc., with the content of the original works of the author Wei Hongling and the team. All forms of misappropriation and reproduction without permission will be refused, otherwise they will be prosecuted in accordance with relevant laws.