Senile cataract, when the eyes become blurry with age

What is senile cataract?

Senile cataracts are cataracts that occur with age. This type of cataract is defined as a cataract that occurs in people over 50 years of age and is not associated with mechanical, chemical, or radiation trauma.

One of the causes of cataracts is damage to the protein in the eye lens. There are four levels of cataract maturity that can occur in senile cataracts, namely:

Immature cataracts, characterized by a lens that changes color to opaque (whitish) at a few points.
Mature cataract, marked by the entire color of the lens has turned opaque.
Hypermature cataract, is advanced and causes changes to the front membrane of the lens. The membrane becomes wrinkled and shrinks due to the discharge of fluid from the lens.
Morgagni cataract, is the final phase of cataracts due to aging.

Mature senile cataracts, hypermatur, and morgagni can trigger glaucoma. Angle closed glaucoma generally occurs in mature cataracts, whereas in hypermature cataracts and Morgagni cataracts, angle closure glaucoma will occur.

What are the symptoms of senile cataract?

Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, senile cataract symptoms include:

Blurred or dim vision
Increased difficulty with night vision
Sensitivity to light and glare
Need more light for reading and other activities
See halos or halos around lights
Change glasses or contact lenses frequently
Faded or yellowing color
Double vision in one eye

In early-stage cataracts, clouding may affect a small portion of your lens and cause no symptoms. However, as the cataract progresses further, you may experience more severe blurred vision, so the symptoms are more pronounced.

What increases my risk of senile cataracts?

Quoted from published journals Indian Journal of Ophthalmology The following factors can increase your risk of developing senile cataracts:

1. Diarrhea or dehydration

Research published in Middle East African Journal Of Ophthalmology mentioned that severe diarrhea is one of the main risk factors for cataracts. Diarrhea, which is closely related to dehydration, is said to increase the risk of cloudy lenses that interfere with vision.

Other studies have concluded that diarrhea, malnutrition, dehydration and high levels of urea in the body can adversely affect the body causing cataracts.

2. Hypertension

Cataracts that occur in people with diabetes mellitus are more likely to occur in those who also have hypertension. Several studies conducted on mice have also shown that hypertension increases the risk of developing cataracts.

3. Smoking

Smoking as a risk factor for cataracts has been discussed in various studies. Several studies say that smoking can increase the risk of cataracts by 2-3 times.

As the smoking dose increases, the severity of the opacification of the eye lenses due to senile cataracts will also increase.

4. Oxidative stress

Oxidative stress is an important factor in the origin of cataracts, both in humans and in experimental animals. The production of oxidants (free radicals) in excess will be very dangerous, and can even affect genetic material.

5. Fat and cholesterol content

The composition and process of rotation of substances in the fat in the lining of the eye lens can affect the formation of types of cataracts, including senile. The development of cataracts is associated with an increase in the amount and spread of cholesterol in the membrane or lens layer.

How to treat this condition?

Having regular eye exams, once a year, can help detect cataracts early on. The most common treatment for cataracts is surgery.

Determination of the right time for cataract surgery will depend largely on the level of cataract maturity, perceived visual disturbances, and eye diseases or other accompanying diseases.

Consult your ophthalmologist to find out exactly when is the best time for you to get cataract surgery.

Delay in treatment due to various things can lead to complications, one of which is glaucoma. Glaucoma itself can cause blindness.

If glaucoma due to cataracts has occurred, glaucoma treatment must be done first. Treatment of glaucoma can be done with drugs or with lasers. The method ophthalmologist chooses depends on the type of glaucoma that is occurring and its severity.

When the eye pressure can be controlled, then surgery to remove the lens that has cataracts can be performed. Consult further with your eye doctor to determine the steps and the best treatment method.

How to prevent senile cataracts?

There are no studies that prove how to prevent cataracts or slow down their stages. However, your doctor may suggest that you do the following ways to reduce your risk of senile cataracts: