The nautral lens is soft and easily adjusts to the shape needed to focus when a person is younger. While aging, the eyesight changes, the natural lens hardens and expands. A cataract is formed when the flexibility of the natural lens decreases and the vision is impaired. Cataracts can occur at any age, but its prevalence increases with increased age. The only treatment option is to remove the natural lens and insert artificial lens in its place. It is thought that the ultraviolet rays of the sun are the main cause of cataracts. Diabetes, corticosteroids and smoking increase the risk.
Symptoms
One or more of the following symptoms may appear with cataracts: blurred vision, night vision deterioration, glare (e.g., halos and beams around lights), increased myopia (easier reading without glasses temporarily), deterioration of reading vision, double vision, decreased color vision (dull colors). *Excess of these symptoms may also be due to other eye diseases, and therefore those who have these symptoms should seek an exam with an ophthalmologist.
Treatment
The treatment of cataracts involves an operation where the natural lens is removed and an artifical lens implant is inserted instead. If a cataract causes a patient's symptoms (see above), especially if they inhibit daily life, it is appropriate to consider surgery.
New types of artifical lenses
Patients receiving traditional cataract surgery usually gain good vision, especially when looking at a distance. However, most patients still need glasses to see well up close, for example when reading.
There are constant developments in the field of artifical lens implants that make it possible to make individuals less reliant on glasses. Studies show that approximately 8 out of 9 patients receiving these types of artifical lenses never need to wear glasses. These new multi focal artificial lenses are an exciting alternative to traditional lens implants for those who have cataracts and want to see the most after eye surgery. They are no less exciting for those who are tired of the glasses and want to see both near themselves and without glasses.