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Cataracts are one of the main causes of blindness in the world, as well as in Indonesia. Indonesia even ranks second with the highest cases of blindness due to cataracts after Eutopia and first in Southeast Asia. Cataract eyes can be cured through cataract surgery. But many people are reluctant to undergo surgery for fear of the risk of complications. So, are there other ways to treat cataracts? Or can it only be cured on the operating table?
What is a cataract?
Cataracts are aging-related vision disorders that cause vision to become cloudy and cloudy. Cataracts make it look like you are looking through a thick dusty window.
Cataracts appear in the lens of the eye, a transparent, crystalline structure just behind the pupil. This eye structure works like a camera lens by focusing light onto the retina at the back of the eye, where the image is recorded. The lens also adjusts the focus of the eye, which allows us to see things clearly both near and far.
The lens is made of water and protein, which are arranged in a way that makes the eye lens clear in color so light can pass through it. But as we get older, some of the protein proteins can clump together and start to form a cloudy cloud that covers the lens. This prevents light from entering the eye, and also reduces the sharpness of the image we see. Over time, protein fog can expand to cover a large portion of the lens, causing foggy or blurred vision.
Cataract eyes can make it difficult for you to interact with other people because it will be difficult for you to read their facial expressions. What's more, cloudy eyes due to cataracts can make it difficult for you to read or drive a car, especially at night.
Do you need surgery for cataracts?
The foggy eyes that occur due to cataracts cannot be relieved by drugs. That's why the solution most often recommended by doctors to restore your vision is cataract surgery. But not everyone automatically needs cataract surgery. This operation is also offered depending on the severity of the cataract.
Cataracts usually take years to develop. When cataracts get worse, they can affect the color we see. This makes the objects we see tend to be yellowish-brownish cloudy. Cataracts often affect both eyes, but rarely of the same severity.
Basically, there are 3 reasons why someone is advised to undergo cataract surgery:
- To improve visual acuity. This is especially true if cloudiness or blurriness of the eyes has disturbed you in your daily activities.
- If there are other medical conditions that are dangerous due to cataracts, for example lens-induced glaucoma .
- On the basis of cosmetic reasons. Cataract patients will have a pupil (the center of the eye which is usually black) which is grayish in color. They can undergo cataract surgery even though the improvement in visual acuity is not very significant.
There is no need to be afraid or worried about surgery. Most people who have cataract surgery get better vision after surgery. In fact, the longer you delay surgery, the less likely it is that your vision will return to normal.
Cataract eye surgery also rarely causes serious side effects or complications. Even so, you may need to wear glasses or contact lenses for a while after surgery. Discuss further with the doctor about your questions and concerns about cataract surgery.
