Treatment FAQ

what is the treatment of cataract

by Alexys Conroy Published 3 years ago Updated 2 years ago
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When your prescription glasses can't clear your vision, the only effective treatment for cataracts is surgery.Sep 2, 2021

Procedures

Jun 24, 2009 · Cataract treatment consists of both non-surgical methods of improving symptoms of vision deterioration as well as surgical removal of the cataract. You and your eye doctor should develop a cataract treatment plan based on the type and severity of your cataract. Below are several methods of cataract treatment.

Nutrition

Dec 28, 2014 · Treating cataract. People with cataracts can use eyeglasses, magnifying lenses, or stronger lighting to help improve their vision. But the only way to cure a cataract is with surgery. Before going ahead with surgery, it's important to weigh how bad your vision is against the small risk of surgery and the likelihood that it will improve your vision.

What are cataracts and how are they treated?

Can you treat cataracts without surgery? Cataract surgery. Surgery is currently the only method of cataract treatment. In the U.S. alone, millions of patients undergo successful cataract ... Glasses for cataracts. Eye drops for cataract. Natural treatments for cataract. Lifestyle changes.

How to reverse your cataracts naturally?

Jan 24, 2018 · There are certain wavelengths of light that have the ability to detoxify the tissue, and improve function. I have found out that this can help in the treatment of cataracts. We are now using a special cold laser, that has 4 modalities in one device, to treat cataracts: Cold Laser; Syntonic Light; Magnetic field; Ultrasound; Homeopathy

When should I remove cataracts?

Oct 31, 2020 · The surgery involves the removal of the natural lens affected by a cataract, followed by the placement of an artificial lens. The vision should begin improving within a matter of days as the eye heals and adjusts to its new lens.

What are cataracts and are they treatable?

Fruits and vegetables have many proven health benefits and are a safe way to increase the amount of minerals and vitamins in your diet. Wear sunglasses. Ultraviolet light from the sun may contribute to the development of cataracts. Wear sunglasses that block ultraviolet B (UVB) rays when you're outdoors. Reduce alcohol use.

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Can you treat a cataract without surgery?

Unfortunately, there's no way to get rid of cataracts without cataract surgery. Some ophthalmologists are exploring alternatives, but at this time, only cataract surgery can cure your cataracts.Mar 8, 2020

What is the latest cataract treatment?

FLACS or Femto laser-assisted cataract surgery is an innovation in cataract surgery. Being bladeless, it has significantly automated the complicated steps of cataract surgery, resulting in quicker recovery & better visual outcome. With Femtosecond laser, cataract surgery is now more safe and accurate.

What are the 3 types of cataracts?

There are three primary types of cataracts: nuclear sclerotic, cortical and posterior subcapsular.Nuclear Sclerotic Cataracts. ... Cortical Cataracts. ... Posterior Subcapsular Cataracts.

What is the main cause of cataract?

Most cataracts develop when aging or injury changes the tissue that makes up the eye's lens. Proteins and fibers in the lens begin to break down, causing vision to become hazy or cloudy. Some inherited genetic disorders that cause other health problems can increase your risk of cataracts.Sep 2, 2021

What is cataract treatment?

Early cataract treatment is aimed at improving your quality of vision. When cataract symptoms appear, you may experience cloudy or blurry vision, light sensitivity, poor night vision, double vision, and changes in your eyewear prescription. Certain changes can significantly reduce these symptoms. 1 

How to reduce cataracts?

Cataract symptoms may be improved with new eyeglasses, anti-glare sunglasses, or magnifying lenses. Certain tints and coatings also can be added to lenses to reduce symptoms. Even better positioning of lamps or reading lights can help. Your eye doctor may recommend that you wear a hat when outdoors in addition to quality sunglasses ...

When will cataract surgery be done?

on April 19, 2020. If you are diagnosed with a cataract, there are other treatment options that you can consider before choosing surgery to replace your clouded lens .

What is phaco in cataract surgery?

Phacoemulsification (phaco) is the most common type of cataract removal procedure performed today. 3  An ultrasonic device vibrating at a very high speed is inserted into the eye through a very tiny incision.

How many stitches are needed for cataract surgery?

The surgeon then inserts an artificial lens into the eye. Depending on the type of incision used, only one stitch (or none at all) may be required to close the wound. This cataract treatment is also called "small incision cataract surgery.".

Can cataract surgery be done on one eye?

Vision of 20/40 impacts occupational performance as well as daily activities, especially driving. 2 . Surgery is usually performed on one eye at a time. This is done to minimize potential complications.

Do you need surgery for cataracts?

Not All Cataracts Require Surgery. Remember, cataract treatment involving surgery may not be necessary if your lifestyle is not affected by cataracts, your vision will not improve because of other eye problems, or glasses or contact lenses could significantly improve your vision.

Why is cataract called cataract?

The name cataract comes from the term for "huge waterfall," which is how some people describe their clouded sight: like trying to look through a waterfall.

How do you know if you have cataracts?

Cataracts typically do not cause any symptoms until they have grown large enough to interfere with vision. Symptoms include: 1 cloudy or blurry vision 2 double vision 3 colors appear faded 4 seeing halos around lights 5 increased sensitivity to glare

What age do cataracts appear?

Cataracts are usually an age-related condition. They first appear in the 40s or 50s, but may not affect vision until much later. Some cataracts are caused by an injury to the eye, long-term diabetes, the use of corticosteroid medications, or radiation treatment.

Does cataract surgery help with vision?

Cataract surgery improves the vision of most — but not all — people who have it. In some people, the surgery causes posterior capsule opacification, in which the part of the eye behind the artificial lens becomes cloudy. This can be corrected with laser surgery.

Can cataracts be corrected with glasses?

People with cataracts can use eyeglasses, magnifying lenses, or stronger lighting to help improve their vision. But the only way to cure a cataract is with surgery. Before going ahead with surgery, it's important to weigh how bad your vision is against the small risk of surgery and the likelihood that it will improve your vision.

How to slow down cataracts?

One of the simplest ways to slow down cataract development is to quit smoking. It isn’t easy, but quitting can be very beneficial for your eye health — and overall health. All forms of smoking or ingesting tobacco apply, including things like vape pens and chewing tobacco.

What is the IOL lens?

This new lens — called an intraocular lens (IOL) — will usually provide you the same clear vision you had before cataracts developed. Fortunately, modern forms of cataract surgery have a low risk of complications. In addition to traditional procedures, laser cataract surgery can further improve upon success rates.

Is cataract surgery the only treatment?

Cataract surgery. Surgery is currently the only method of cataract treatment. In the U.S. alone, millions of patients undergo successful cataract surgeries every year. In the early stages of cataracts, you may experience mild blurry vision or cloudiness. These effects slowly worsen as a cataract progresses over time.

Can cataracts worsen over time?

These effects slowly worsen as a cataract progresses over time. Once cataracts have a significant impact on your vision, an eye doctor will likely recommend surgery as the next step. Cataract surgery replaces the cloudy lens inside your eye with a clear, artificial lens.

Can glasses help with cataracts?

Glasses for cataracts. Glasses can’t treat a cataract itself, but they can help ease some of your symptoms in the meantime. One type of cataract can make people more nearsighted, regardless of whether they were already nearsighted or not. The primary symptom is blurry vision when you’re looking at something far away.

Can you use eye drops for cataract surgery?

Eye drops for cataract. The only eye drops prescribed for cataracts are the medications given before and after cataract surgery to reduce the chance of infection and inflammation. There are currently no eye drops available to treat or reduce the effects of cataracts — but there may be in the future. In 2015, a team of scientists from UC San ...

What is compound 29?

Louis identified a substance known as compound 29, which removed some of the cloudiness in the lenses of mice with cataracts.

How to prevent cataracts?

Improve your diet – Go on an organic diet. Avoid all preservatives, GMO foods, and sugar, especially high fructose corn syrup. Keep yourself hydrated – Cataracts are denatured lens protein (denatured = dehydrated).

What causes cataracts as you age?

Ocular aging is accelerated by toxic stress, dehydration, and heavy metal poisoning. These things are also known to cause cataracts. Read on, to find out more about the cause of cataracts and contemporary treatment options.

What is the purpose of microcurrent?

Microcurrent. Microcurrent can be useful in reducing cataracts and improving visual function. The mechanism of microcurrent is to improve blood flow, increase cellular function, detoxify the eye, and reduce scar tissue. Pulse Electromagnetic Field is a type of microcurrent.

How does light affect the nervous system?

Light has an effect on the atomic, cellular, hormonal, and the autonomic nervous system. It has the ability to penetrate all the levels of the eye into the lens, to have a therapeutic effect. The College of Syntonics is a 73-year-old organization, that has studied the effects of light on the visual system.

Is OcluMed a good antioxidant?

This product has a combination of antioxidants, which gives a much better effect than a single component, such as L-Carnosine or N-Acetyl-L-Carnosine, as antioxidants. The OcluMed contains the following ingredients:

What is homeopathy therapy?

Homeopathy is a scientific method of therapy that stimulates the healing processes of the body. Homeopathy’s success rates, in treating both chronic and acute conditions, demonstrate that the results last over time. This system is rapidly achieving widespread acceptance in areas, such as Europe, India, and South America.

Can chelation therapy reverse cataracts?

Ansari, at the University of Texas Medical School, presented data at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology, at the May 2009 meeting in Ft. Lauderdale. His research shows that by removing certain metals with EDTA, diabetic cataracts could be reversed.

How long does cataract surgery take?

It is typically an outpatient surgery that is completed in 30 minutes or less (per eye) and generally only requires numbing drops and minimal sedation. The surgery involves the removal of the natural lens affected by a cataract, followed by the placement of an artificial lens.

What is cataract in the eye?

What Is a Cataract? A cataract is the buildup of proteins in the lens within the eye. This protein buildup creates cloudiness and opacity within the lens. In turn, the vision becomes blurred, hazy, faded or generally worsened. Cataracts are a highly common condition that can occur naturally, typical as we get older.

What causes glare in the eye?

As the cataract develops, it will increasingly obstruct the path of light and cause glare. This type of cataract is commonly found in patients who have had eye trauma or surgery, who have had elevated blood sugar levels, or who have been treated with steroids.

How long does it take for a cataract to heal?

The vision should begin improving within a matter of days as the eye heals and adjusts to its new lens. While complete healing may take several weeks , everyday activities should be able to be resumed within a few days of the procedure with very little restriction.

Do you need glasses after cataract surgery?

Depending on the lens options that are chosen for the surgery, glasses may or may not be necessary following surgery. With each of the different types of cataracts, cataract surgery is necessary to treat the condition and restore vision for a patient. Fortunately, surgery to correct cataracts is very common, safe, and effective.

What is nuclear cataract?

The nuclear sclerotic cataract (also known as a “nuclear cataract”) is the most common type of cataract and it generally is brought on as a result of advancing age. Nuclear cataracts affect the center of the lens, also known as the nucleus. With this type of cataract, the lens gradually hardens and turns densely yellow or brown over time. This hardening of the lens is referred to as “sclerosis.” An oddity with this condition is that in the early stages some patients report sudden vision improvements, including improvements in nearsightedness or reading vision. However, this effect (commonly referred to as “second sight”) is only temporary. In general, nuclear cataracts cause more significant impairment on distance vision than near vision.

What is a cortical cataract?

A cortical cataract affects the outer layer of the lens. This type of cataract occurs when opacities are formed in the lens cortex. The cortical cataract is noticeable in early stages when small clouded areas or white streaks begin to form within the lens cortex. These white streaks, (also known as “cortical spokes”) can grow to extend to ...

What are some ways to prevent cataracts?

Fruits and vegetables have many proven health benefits and are a safe way to increase the amount of minerals and vitamins in your diet. Wear sunglasses. Ultraviolet light from the sun may contribute to the development of cataracts. Wear sunglasses that block ultraviolet B (UVB) rays when you're outdoors.

What are the different types of cataracts?

Types of cataracts. Cataract types include: Cataracts affecting the center of the lens (nuclear cataracts). A nuclear cataract may at first cause more nearsightedness or even a temporary improvement in your reading vision. But with time, the lens gradually turns more densely yellow and further clouds your vision.

What is a cataract in the right eye?

Overview. A cataract occurs when the lens of your eye becomes cloudy. Eventually, a cataract can advance to the degree of the one shown in this person's right eye. Normal vision (left) becomes blurred as a cataract forms (right). A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of your eye.

How does cataract affect vision?

How a cataract affects your vision. Normal vision (left) becomes blurred as a cataract forms (right). A cataract is a clouding of the normally clear lens of your eye. For people who have cataracts, seeing through cloudy lenses is a bit like looking through a frosty or fogged-up window. Clouded vision caused by cataracts can make it more difficult ...

Where do cataracts form?

How a cataract forms. The lens, where cataracts form, is positioned behind the colored part of your eye (iris). The lens focuses light that passes into your eye, producing clear, sharp images on the retina — the light-sensitive membrane in the eye that functions like the film in a camera.

What causes a cloudy eye?

Fading or yellowing of colors. Double vision in a single eye. At first, the cloudiness in your vision caused by a cataract may affect only a small part of the eye's lens and you may be unaware of any vision loss.

How do you know if you have cataracts?

Symptoms. Signs and symptoms of cataracts include: At first, the cloudiness in your vision caused by a cataract may affect only a small part of the eye's lens and you may be unaware of any vision loss. As the cataract grows larger, it clouds more of your lens and distorts the light passing through the lens.

How to prevent cataracts?

Here are tips for supporting your eye health once you know you have cataracts: 1 Receive a comprehensive eye exam every year once you are over the age of 65. If you are younger, get an exam once every two years. 2 Always protect your eyes from UV light by wearing sunglasses and a hat. 3 If you smoke, quit, as it is a risk factor for cataracts. 4 Stay on top of other health problems, particularly diabetes. 5 Make sure your eyeglass or contact lens prescriptions are current.

What is the best way to address vision problems?

Speaking with your regular eye doctor and eye surgeon can help you determine if cataract surgery is the best way to address your vision problems and overall vision goals.

What is the most common procedure performed in the world?

According to the American Academy of Ophthalmology, cataract surgery is one of the most common procedures performed around the world. Through both traditional and laser-assisted cataract surgery, the patient’s natural, now-cloudy lens is removed and replaced by a clear artificial lens. With cataract surgery, lens types and surgery approaches vary.

Can cataract surgery help with vision?

The outcome is clearer vision and an eye free of cataracts. Cataract surgery can help people with cataracts achieve: A clear lens after having a cloudy lens. Clear vision, though they may still require reading glasses. The best possible vision for them without the need of glasses.

Is cataract surgery safe?

Nonsurgical Treatment Options. Although cataract surgery is widely recognized as safe and effective, it does not mean it is the right treatment approach for everyone. Until cataracts inhibit your vision enough that you can no longer do activities that you wish to do, surgery is usually not recommended.

Is there a way to remove cataracts from the eye?

Although cataract surgery is currently the only treatment option for removing cataracts from the eye, scientists are working on nonsurgical alternatives. Researchers from the University of Massachusetts Amherst are collaborating with other scientists in order to revolutionize the treatment of cataracts and presbyopia.

Is there a non surgical treatment for cataracts?

Researchers hope to develop a nonsurgical treatment option that is less expensive, more accessible around the world, and poses fewer risks than traditional cataract surgery. A 2015 animal study also investigated nonsurgical treatment approaches to cataracts. It studied the efficacy of eye drops to treat cloudy vision caused by cataracts.

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Treatment

Clinical Trials

Lifestyle and Home Remedies

Preparing For Your Appointment

Your provider will work with you to develop a care plan that may include one or more of these treatment options.
Cataracts can be removed completely through surgery.
Procedures

Cataract surgery: Replacing the natural lens of the eye with an artificial lens or intraocular lens (IOL).

Nutrition

There are no specific foods proven to help cataract but certain foods can help maintain general eye health.

Foods to eat:

  • Beta - carotene containing foods such as carrots
  • Vitamin C containing foods such as oranges, mangoes, lemons and grapefruit
  • Vitamin A rich foods such as spinach, green vegetables

Foods to avoid:

  • NA

Specialist to consult

Ophthalmologist
Specializes in the medical and surgical care of the eyes.

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