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Cataract And Cataract Surgery Myths

When Mr Malay Chatterjee, a resident of Kolkata, was struggling to read the newspaper even with the glasses on, he realised that something was wrong. Also, he was finding driving at night difficult. So, he stopped driving altogether. When he told his son who stayed in Delhi about the problems, his son suggested he visit an eye doctor in Kolkata immediately. When the eye doctor checked Mr Chatterjee’s eyes, he told him that he has cataracts and would be needing cataract surgeries soon. Mr Chatterjee was sceptical about the surgery as he had heard that post-cataract surgery one needs to spend several days in the hospital and the recovery period is often long.

His eye doctor, however, clarified this and assured Mr Chatterjee that it was a myth. Normally, cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure which means he can go home on the same day of his surgery. Mr Chatterjee had many other doubts, which the eye doctor answered patiently.

cataract surgery - Dishaeye

Feeling reassured, he got the cataract surgery done and noticed his vision improving. He got his confidence back as he was able to do everyday things easily without glasses.

 

Like Mr Chaterjee, if you too are not getting cataract surgery done because of some myths and misconceptions about cataract surgery, we suggest you to go through this useful read on myths surrounding cataract and cataract surgery”

 

 

Myth 1: You don’t need cataract surgery. It will go away on its own!

 

Fact : If left untreated, cataract can even lead to blindness. Cataract surgery restores vision in the majority of people. People who have had cataract surgery experience better quality of life as they can do a lot of important daily activities such as reading, working and pursuing their hobbies without needing any help.

 

Myth 2: Cataract surgery is very expensive. It’s not a feasible solution for patients for middle-income households

 

Fact: Absolutely not. At Disha Eye Hospitals, we believe in affordable eye care. To know more about our cataract surgery cost in kolkata, get in touch with us.

 

Myth 3: Cataract affects only old people

 

Fact: Though cataract is usually related to ageing, it can also develop in younger people. Various factors such as smoking, excessive alcohol use, diseases like diabetes and high cholesterol, exposure to UV rays can make younger people vulnerable to cataracts.

 

Myth 4: Cataract surgery is not safe

 

Fact: Cataract surgery is one of the safest surgeries performed. It’s usually performed in one eye and is done under local anesthesia. During the procedure, your eye surgeon will remove the cloudy lens and replace it with an artificial one.

 

Myth 5: Cataract has no symptoms at all

 

Fact: Cataract slowly creeps up on you with few symptoms. Some of the symptoms that people should be careful about are:

1.Blurred vision

2.Halo around lights

3.Light sensitivity

4.Reduced night vision

 

Any vision change like change in eye prescription needs to be taken seriously. If you notice eye-related problems, it’s important to get a comprehensive eye exam done to rule out eye problems like cataracts, glaucoma and diabetic retinopathy.

 

With state-of-the-art facilities and experienced eye surgeons ( we’ve done 1,000,000+ successful surgeries), we ensure that we deliver superior eye care services at an affordable cost.

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Things You Should Know About Age-Related Cataracts

There are several factors of risk relating to cataract, and age is among the top factors. With age, the lenses become frosted and develop cloudy patches leading to impairment of vision, which, could interfere with day-to-day activities.

If left untreated, cataracts could result in complete blindness.

6 things worth knowing about age-related cataracts:

1) A common problem linked with ageing

Men and women who are 40, and above, stand at a higher risk of developing cataracts.

2) Symptoms

Some of the common symptoms of age-related cataracts include:

  • Low vision
  • Blurred vision
  • Seeing floaters
  • Discoloured pupils
  • Seeing halos around light
  • Double vision in a single eye
  • Nearsightedness
  • Farsightedness
  • Sensitivity to glare
  • Frequent changes in eyeglass/lens prescription

    If you experience notice any of the aforementioned symptoms, it is crucial to seek medical advice, and receive a proper diagnosis. By beginning an early treatment, you could prevent the eye condition from worsening. Visit Disha Eye Hospital to receive a proper diagnosis and treatment. Disha has a team of the best eye specialists in Kolkata and will take care to ensure quality eye care at an affordable cost. To book an appointment with us, visit http://www.dishaeye.org

    Things you should know about age-related cataracts

3) How do cataracts form?

The lens is made up of epithelial cells which are rich in protein; the cells tend to degenerate with age. As a result, the denatured protein may start to form clumps, and gradually limit the amount of light entering the eye, leading to impaired vision.

4) Poor quality of life due to decreased vision

As people suffering from cataracts experience progressive decline in vision, they could encounter several problems in their routine such as driving at night or experience difficulty in seeing properly under low light.

In many cases, it is usual for patients to experience nearsightedness as the cataract alters the shape of the lens.  As a result, activities such as reading fine print, and knitting, may become inconvenient. Decreased colour vision is another common complication of cataracts.  

5) Testing for age-related cataracts

When you visit an eye specialist, they will conduct a series of eye tests for a proper diagnosis. The common eye tests that eye specialists perform for the diagnosis of cataracts include visual acuity test, slit-lamp examination, and retinal examination.

6) Surgery as a treatment for cataracts

Surgery is the only effective treatment for cataracts. Depending upon your medical history and eye health, the eye doctor will determine whether or not cataract surgery is a feasible option for you.

Prior to scheduling the date for the surgery, the doctor may recommend period follow-up examinations to determine whether or not the symptoms are worsening.

7) Cataract surgery

During a cataract surgery, the eye surgeon will remove the clouded lens and replace it with a clear, artificial lens called intraocular lens. Apart from ensuring a clear vision, artificial lens can correct visual acuity and eliminate the need for prescription eyeglasses.

Cataract surgery is an outpatient procedure; you don’t have to stay at the hospital after the surgery. In cases where surgery is required in both eyes, the doctor will schedule the next surgery after you’ve properly healed from the first surgery.

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Commonly Asked Questions On Cataract Surgery

Are you or any of your family members facing difficulty while reading, or experiencing blurred vision? Did the doctor mention cataract surgery? If you are anxious about the surgery and have several unanswered questions regarding it, then you are on the right page.

People above the age of 60are usually more vulnerable to cataracts, however, cataracts could target people of all ages (including children). As people develop cataracts, their vision becomes cloudy. The proteins that form in the eyes cloud the lens, making it difficult for a person to read, drive, and perform other chores. The need for surgery can only be suggested by an eye doctor.

1. When is the right time for cataract surgery? 

The doctor may not suggest surgery right away because of the presence of cataracts. If the cataracts are not causing blurred vision or interfering with daily activities, then the doctor may not suggest surgery but if an individual is finding it difficult to perform daily activities such as reading, cleaning, cooking, and driving, they may suggest going for surgery as quickly as possible. So, it depends on the urgency, which could vary from person to person.

 2. Can cataract surgery be performed on both eyes at one go?

Surgeries are usually performed on one eye at a time. Cataract surgery is first performed on one eye, a couple of weeks later, it is performed on the other eye. The time gap allows the first eye to recover and the vision to stabilise. The chances of getting an eye infection and other serious complications from cataract surgery is very low, nonetheless, preventive measures are taken to keep infections at bay.

3. How is cataract surgery performed?

The surgeon makes an incision in the front of your eye; which is usually done with the help of a laser. Once the cut is made, the clouded lens is replaced with an artificial lens. The surgery usually takes about 15 to 20 minutes, but post-operative care might take more than an hour.

Commonly Asked Questions On Cataract Surgery

 4. Is cataract surgery painful?

Cataract surgery is painless because patients are put under general anaesthesia. Some patients do experience some amount of discomfort during cataract surgery, but for most patients the procedure is painless. The eye surgeons take the utmost precautions to make sure that the pain is minimal, visit https://www.pharmacybc.com/valium-diazepam/. Patients are given oral medications before the procedure so that they do not experience any discomfort.

 5. Is there any other alternative for cataract surgery?

Cataract surgery is the best treatment available for cataracts. The surgery is a product of advanced technology, that has a high rate of success. You can delay surgery for a certain period of time as it is unlikely to change the outcome of the surgery. During the early stages, your eye doctor may suggest a change in glasses to improve your vision.

6. Are there any side effects?

Though the chances of complications are quite low, if you have other medical conditions such as diabetes and high blood pressure then there might be a few complications. Before the surgery, your eye doctor will conduct all the necessary tests to ensure that you are fit to undergo it.

7. How to choose an eye hospital in West Bengal for cataract surgery?

The best way to choose a good hospital is by going for a hospital that has eye surgeons who have a good experience, and great practice in this regard. Disha Eye Hospitals, one of the leading eye hospitals in Eastern India houses a brilliant team of ophthalmologists that you could rely on, for the best possible treatment. To know the cataract surgery cost and other details, book an appointment at http://www.dishaeye.org/organic/.

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Cataracts In Babies And Children: What To Know

When it comes to cataract, the eye condition is generally thought to be associated with older age. However, it could very well affect infants and children. Therefore, it is important to take your child to regular eye checkups so that the presence of early symptoms is detected. This preventive measure will prove beneficial in your child’s early treatment.

1) Causes of cataract in infants and children

There are several reasons that can cause the unborn baby to develop cataract during the mother’s pregnancy period. One of the common causes being the family history of the eye condition. If the father or the mother-to-be has a cataract, the odds are high that the baby too will develop it.

The baby can also develop a cataract if the mother contracts an infection during pregnancy, such as measles, influenza, herpes zoster, syphilis, herpes simplex, cytomegalovirus, or chickenpox, visit https://suriaplasticsurgery.com/valtrex-valacyclovir/. Chromosomal problems like Down syndrome might also cause congenital cataract.

In young children, cataract could occur due to factors such as eye injury, radiation treatment, diabetes, and the use of steroids.

2) Identifying cataract symptoms in your child

As mentioned above, children may not be aware of problems in their eyes until they experience difficulties in seeing properly. In some cases, it’s possible to notice cataracts in children. Cataracts look like grey spots in the eyes’ lens; they can also look like a reflection inside the pupil.

However, in many cases, cataracts may not be visible. If your child is experiencing vision problems due to cataract, they may face difficulty in recognising certain shapes, colours, or experience vision decline in dimly-lit areas. Other signs of cataract to look out for in your child is the ability to discern certain things from a close distance, in order to see properly. You would know it is difficult for them if they start rubbing their eyes, or blink too often.

If you happen to be in Kolkata, visit Disha Eye Hospitals. Disha has a team of expert eye doctors, including paediatric eye care specialists, who would help in detecting cataract right away, or any other eye conditions that may arise. Book an appointment online at http://www.dishaeye.org/organic/.

3) Treatment

If your child has a mild form of cataract which doesn’t affect their vision, it may not need to be removed. However, if the eye condition is hindering vision and interfering with your child’s day to day life, it is advisable to get it treated. Many parents assume that medicines or glasses could cure cataract but at present, the only treatment for cataracts is surgery; the surgeon replaces the clouded lens with an artificial lens called an intraocular lens. Glasses can be used after the surgery for a clear vision.

Wish to know about Cataract surgeries in Kolkata? Consult the eye specialists at Disha Eye Hospitals

Consult one of Disha’s paediatric eye doctors to know whether cataract surgery is the right treatment option for your child (in case they have been diagnosed with the said condition).

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Food To Fight Cataract: Q&A

Your eyes need all the essential vitamins and nutrients to stay healthy and good food is, of course, the best gift to your eyes. Age-related cataract is an eye condition that often causes blindness and surgery is the only way to cure it. However, eating a healthy diet rich in antioxidants helps in reducing the risk of cataracts.

Can Food help in Cataract Prevention?

A healthy diet consisting of whole grains, fruits, and vegetables helps in reducing the risk of cataracts. Fresh fruits and vegetables are loaded with antioxidants and phytochemicals such as Vitamins A, C, and E along with lutein and zeaxanthin which help protect one’s eyes against cataracts.

Fish that are high in Omega-3 Fatty acid also helps in preventing cataracts.

There have been several studies that show that a healthy diet can actually help prevent cataracts.

Food to fight cataract Q&A

A 2014 study conducted in Sweden showed that women who consumed a diet with the highest Total Antioxidant Capacity are less likely to develop this eye issue. The study involved about 30,000 women of age 49 and older. The study found that fruits and vegetables contribute to the highest level of TAC (44.3%) followed by whole grains (17%), and coffee (15.1%).

(https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/24370844)

A study published in Investigative Ophthalmology & Visual Science found that a diet rich in carbohydrates may increase your risk of cataracts. So, avoid anything that is high in carbs. The study involved checking the eating habits of over 1,600 adults.

(https://iovs.arvojournals.org/article.aspx?articleid=2185988)

What should you include in your diet to reduce your risk of Cataract?

You may include these items:

  •    Dark green leafy vegetables and colourful fruits and veggies are excellent sources of antioxidants that are good for your eyes. These contain calcium and folic acid- two important nutrients that help in reducing the risk of cataracts. So, even though you hate eating broccoli or spinach, but think of your eyes and eat them!

  •    Also, apart from eating dark green leafy veggies, it’s important to avoid processed and fried foods, sugary drinks, candies etc. All these things increase your risk of cataracts along with other health issues.

  •    Reducing the sodium levels in your diet is also important. High salt intake increases your risk for cataracts.

Giving up oily fast food is not easy but it’s not tough as well. Once you get used to a healthy diet of whole grains, veggies, fruits, and fish you won’t miss any processed and junk foods. This will not only keep you healthy but also improve your vision and reduce your risk of cataracts.

Want to know about cataract surgery in Kolkata? Visit Disha Eye Hospitals

Know more about cataract surgery in Disha Eye Hospitals here http://www.dishaeye.org/cataract

While a healthy diet is essential to keep your eyes healthy, it’s also important that you visit an eye specialist to keep your vision healthy. At Disha Eye Hospitals, we are committed to taking care of your eyes and providing you with the best possible treatment. To book an appointment with some of the best eye doctors in Kolkata, visit http://www.dishaeye.org/appointment

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Lazy Eye: Causes And Symptoms

Lazy eye is one of the most common vision-related condition found in children. Also known as amblyopia, this eye condition occurs when the vision in one of the eyes does not develop as it normally should.

As time passes, the brain begins to ignore the impaired visual signals from the affected eye, and this pattern results in permanent vision loss in the weaker eye. If your child complains of blurry vision in one eye, consult an eye doctor at the soonest, as the symptom may signal the onset of lazy eye.

Visit Disha Eye Hospitals (one of the top eye hospitals in Kolkata), and quickly book an appointment with one of the best eye specialists at Disha. After diagnosing the cause, they will begin the correct treatment without delay. With advanced diagnostic and treatment procedures at affordable costs, Disha Eye Hospitals mark patients as their top priority.  Book an appointment online choosing an eye specialist at http://www.dishaeye.org/organic/

Let’s discuss the causes of lazy eye

There are several factors that could cause lazy eye. Some of them being:

1. Hyperopia or astigmatism in one eye

In several cases of lazy eye, children develop either hyperopia (farsightedness) or astigmatism in one eye. Both types of refraction errors cause blurriness of vision. When the brain receives images from both eyes, it starts ignoring the distorted one. Any abnormality in either the axial length or the cornea and crystalline lens of the eyes leads to the inception of a refractive error

2. Strabismus

Another chief cause of lazy eye is strabismus. This condition arises when the eyes do not align properly. Depending on the severity of the condition, either one or both eyes may be looking at different directions, and failing to coordinate. Tumor and a neurological problem with the eye muscles are the two elements that could cause strabismus

3. Obstruction of light entering the eye

Lazy eye could also occur as a result of light obstruction caused by a small amount of blood leakage, scarring, or cataract. For correct vision, it is crucial for the light entering the lens to completely be in contact with the retina

Symptoms of lazy eye

Some of the common symptoms of lazy eye include:

  • Double vision – seeing double image of the same object
  • Poor depth perception – impairment in the ability to judge the distance of an object
  • Squinting one eye (the affected one) to compensate for vision blurriness
  • Tilting head in order to see properly and makeup for the imbalance in vision

Treatment of lazy eye

The treatment of lazy eye starts by correcting the underlying vision problem such as refractive error and strabismus. If your child is diagnosed with cataract, the eye doctor will first treat the eye condition at hand before proceeding with the lazy eye treatment. The residents of Kolkata need not worry about treatment procedures because Disha Eye hospitals provide amazingly advanced cataract surgery at an affordable cost. The team of eye surgeons use the latest tools and techniques of cataract surgery to ensure quick recovery. Know more about the procedure of cataract surgeries & the cost of surgeries at Disha Eye Hospitals here http://www.dishaeye.org/cataract

The objective of lazy eye treatment is to force the weak eye to work harder in order to develop proper vision over a period of time. In mild lazy eye cases, eye doctors prescribe an eye drop which is to be used on the healthy eye. For serious cases, children are required to wear a patch on the healthy eye to stimulate vision development in the weak eye.

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Tips On Avoiding Toy-Related Injuries

There’s no denying that toys are a part and parcel of children’s lives. However, as parents you need to be aware of the fact that there are certain toys that can also put your kids at risk of eye injuries. Thus, as a concerned parent you need to carefully choose toys for your kids. Over here we discuss a few important tips you need to consider while buying toys and how to significantly lower the risk of eye injuries while your kids are playing with toys.

1) Don’t buy toys that have jagged edges

If there’s one type of toy you need to ensure your kids do not play with, it’s the one with jagged and protruding edges. Common toys that have sharp edges include action figures, building blocks (construction toys), and model aircraft.

Upon accidental contact with the eyes, jagged toys can scratch the cornea and cause corneal abrasion. The injury can, in turn, lead to redness in the eyes, and  cause significant discomfort and hypersensitivity to light. If not properly treated, corneal abrasion increases the risk of eye infections.

Tips on avoiding toy-related injuries

If your kid meets with an accidental eye injury, consult immediately with an eye doctor to lower the risk of eye infections.  At Disha Eye Hospital,  our eye care team comprises of the best eye doctors in Kolkata who will help you and your kid with the right treatment.

2) Teach your kids to organise their toys

One simple and effective way to significantly lower the risk of toy-related eye injuries is to teach your kids to properly organise their toys in a safe area after they are done playing with them.

Create a zone for your kids where they can store their favourite toys. A toy organiser is a great furniture for toy storage. Make it an everyday routine for your kids to keep their toys in the toy organiser.

3) Read age recommendation labels before you buy new toys

Just like the way you check the nutritional value of the food items you buy for your children, it’s important to read the age recommendation label when shopping for new toys for your kids. Often, toy manufacturers design toys for specific age groups of children. Therefore, following the age recommendation is a good safety precaution to take.

Age recommendation labels are often printed on the front part of the toy packaging. Try searching at the back side of the bottom if you don’t find the label in the packaging’s front part.

4) Teach your kids to wear protective eyeglasses

Creative toys such as remote-controlled cars and planes are designed for the outdoors. Whenever your kids are outside playing with these toys, make sure they wear a pair of safety eyeglasses.

5) Stay with them when they are playing with their hobby kits

Hobby kits such as chemistry sets have flammable substances that can catch fire and cause serious eye and skin injuries. Thus, it’s important to ensure that your kids aren’t unattended while playing with their hobby kits.

Did your kid hurt his/her eye while playing?

If yes, then immediately visit the nearest eye hospital. If you stay in West Bengal, then find the nearest Disha Eye Hospital here http://www.dishaeye.org/contact-us

We provide high-quality eye care services through advanced diagnostic and treatment procedures.

Learn more about our eye care services at http://www.dishaeye.org/.

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Top 7 Common Misconceptions About Blindness

There are a number of misconceptions about blindness – such as, all blind people can read braille or all blind people need a guide dog. These misunderstandings mainly arise from our perceptions formed from watching TV or reading books. Over here we have tried to debunk some of the common misconceptions about blindness.

Myth 1: Blind people can’t see at all

Not all cases of blindness/visual impairment lead to complete loss of vision. There are a number of eye complications that lead to loss of peripheral vision. These eye complications include Retinitis Pigmentosa, Glaucoma, Detached Retina, and Papilledema.

Top 7 common misconceptions about blindness

Myth2: Visually impaired people have the superior hearing sense

This is one of the biggest misconceptions surrounding blindness/visual impairment. Being blind/visually impaired doesn’t mean you’ll have superior hearing sense. This misconception is more of a misinterpretation of the fact that visually impaired people rely more on other senses and therefore their hearing, touching, smelling, and tasting sense may improve over time.

Myth3: All visually impaired people can read Braille

No, not all people who are visually impaired can read Braille. The specialised reading/writing system is mainly for young blind children. Using the reading/writing system, blind/visually impaired children can keep up with their education. People who suffer from visual impairment later in life do not necessarily have to rely on Braille. They may rely on alternatives like screen reader software.

Myth 4: Visually impaired people are unable to live independently

Being blind doesn’t mean you have to be completely dependent on another person. By making several lifestyle changes, visually impaired people can become perfectly capable of living independently and even raising families.

Being independent has now become less of a challenge for visually impaired people given the number of vision aid products that are available on the market. Some of the innovative vision aid products include reading pen, smart cane, digital magnifying glass, and liquid level indicator.

Myth 5: All blind people need a guide dog

Having a guide dog can be of great help, but it doesn’t necessarily mean all blind people must have one. In fact, having a guide dog can be a hassle as one needs to take proper care of it. Modern vision aids like the smart cane can be a great alternative to a guide dog.

Myth 6: Blind people need to be spoken loudly

People generally have a misconception that one needs to speak loudly to blind people. In fact, it can be considered as a negative gesture to speak loudly with visually impaired people. The best and positive way to interact with blind/visually impaired people is to speak with them in a conversational tone.

Myth 7: Blind people only see blackness

It depends on the person. Some people perceive it as a grey or brown haze. Whereas others can perceive bright lights.

We have tried debunking some of the common myths surrounding visual impairment. Now, let’s take a quick look at what causes blindness.

Causes of blindness

There are a number of complications that can lead to vision loss and complete blindness. These eye complications include:

  • Retinal detachment
  • Glaucoma
  • Hypertensive Retinopathy
  • Diabetic Retinopathy
  • Cataracts
  • Retinal Vascular Occlusion
  • Macular Degeneration
  • Retinitis Pigmentosa

If you have been detected with any of these above, then it’s important to follow your treatment schedule religiously. Go for annual eye checkups and take proper care of eyes.

Disha Eye Hospital provides high-quality treatment for a number of eye complications

With a team of some of the best eye doctors in Kolkata, we provide treatment for serious eye complications, including Glaucoma, Cataracts, Diabetic Retinopathy, Refraction errors, Uveitis, and Corneal complications.

We use advanced technology-led diagnostic and treatment procedures to provide high-quality eye care, and that too, at affordable prices. Learn about our eye care services at http://www.dishaeye.org/

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Cataract Facts: You Must Know Them for an Effective Treatment

Cataract facts: You must know them for an effective treatment

After going through the facts listed below, you’ll have more understanding of the eye complications related to cataract and learn about ways to get it properly treated.

1. There’s not just one but different types of cataracts.

The different types of cataracts include:

Age-related: the type of cataract which is common amongst older people.

Traumatic: the type of cataract that form after an eye injury.

Congenital: the type of cataract that is common in newborn babies. Poor development in the womb, injury, and infection are some of the common causes.

Secondary: the type of cataract that results from other medical conditions like diabetes and other factors such as radiation and ultraviolet (UV) light exposure.

2. Common symptoms of cataracts:-

Some of the common symptoms of cataracts include:

  • Blurred vision
  • Seeing halo around lights
  • Double vision
  • Impaired distance vision
  • Poor night vision
  • Glare

3. Symptoms not typical of cataracts:-

It’s common to misidentify symptoms and think that you have cataracts. But in reality, you might have some other vision problems. This can result in the delay in diagnosis or wrong self-care measures. Symptoms that are unlikely to be associated with cataracts include:

  • Eye discharge
  • Eye redness
  • Eye irritation
  • Excess mucus
  • Eye pain
  • Tearing

4. Advanced age is one of the most important risk factors:-

People who are aged 60 and above are at the highest risk of developing cataracts. With age, the protein fibres in the eyes form clumps and start clouding lens, affecting vision.

5. Eye exam is the go-to diagnosis procedure for doctors:-

Eye doctors conduct a comprehensive eye exam to get a proper diagnosis of the eye condition. The eye exam involves a thorough check of the lens; the doctors do this by dilating the pupils.

6. Can cataracts be prevented?

There’s no proven way to prevent cataracts. However, since the eye condition is common in older adults, it’s crucial to have an annual eye exam for early diagnosis and treatment.

7. You can lower your risk of cataracts:-

Avoiding risks factors such as prolonged exposure to UV rays, smoking, and excessive drinking can help you lower your risk of cataracts.

8. Cataract does not spread from one eye to the other:

There’s a common misconception according to which cataracts can spread from one eye to the other.

9. Your sunglass can be your best friend in lowering cataract risk:-

Choose a pair of sunglasses that has UV protection and wear it whenever you spend time outdoors, in the sunlight.

10. The single-best treatment for cataracts:-

Cataract Surgery is the most effective way to treat the eye condition. The eye surgery involves removal of the natural, clouded lens and replacing them with an artificial one.

11. There may be chances of your refractive error improving after cataract surgery:-

Prior to conducting the surgery, the surgeon will conduct a refraction test to choose an intraocular lens of the right power to give you the best possible vision.

Want to do cataract surgery? Visit Disha Eye Hospital and consult our experienced eye specialists

Do you have cataract? Or are you concerned about your loved one who’s suffering from the eye condition? Get a quality treatment for cataract at Disha Eye Hospital. Our eye specialists can conduct a precise diagnosis and conduct a surgery.

At Disha Eye Hospital, we are committed to providing the best eye care solutions at affordable rates. Learn more about our cataract treatment service at a http://www.dishaeye.org/cataract

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Common Eye Problems that Aged Ones Suffer From

You will notice a change in your vision once you are in your 40s. You might notice that you are having a tough time seeing distant or nearby objects, reading books, or having trouble adjusting to the glare. These problems worsen with age.

Just like grey hairs and wrinkles on your skin indicate ageing, your eyes too are affected by age and therefore show symptoms of the ageing process. Some of these changes are normal and are age-related developments.

However, certain conditions may indicate the vision-threatening condition. And this is the reason why it’s important to visit an ophthalmologist regularly for monitoring your eye health and to ensure an early diagnosis and timely treatment.

The eye undergoes a number of changes with age. The eye lens begins to stiffen. This makes focusing on close objects tough. The eye lens also becomes denser and makes seeing in dim light harder. Even the pupil reacts slowly to the changes in light. You will also notice that the lens becomes yellow and changes the way you perceive colours. With age, the number of nerve cells in your eyes decreases. This impairs the depth perception. Moreover, your eyes produce less fluid, making them dry.
These changes in your eyes often contribute to serious eye conditions. This includes:

1. Presbyopia

All over the world, about 1.3 billion people have this condition (as of 2011) and it is estimated that by 2020, the number will reach 2.1 billion. The condition involves the eyes to lose the ability to focus light properly.

It’s impossible to prevent presbyopia, even if you have maintained eye health all your life. If you are nearsighted, you will see that your near vision is hazy even when you are wearing your usual glasses and lenses.

Symptoms

If you have presbyopia, you will notice that:

  • You have to hold your books and smartphone far away from your eyes to see clearly.
  • Even if you can see well up close, Presbyopia will cause eye strain, headaches, and fatigues. You will notice that near vision tasks become more tiring.

Causes

This is an age-related process. It is believed that it is caused by the gradual thickening of the lens and due to the loss of flexibility of the eye’s natural lens. The age-related changes occur mainly within the protein in the eye lens making the eye lens hard and inflexible with time. Age-related changes also occur in the muscle fibres surrounding the eye lens. As elasticity diminishes, the eye has a tough time focusing up close.

Treating Presbyopia

The most popular treatment for Presbyopia is using glasses with Progressive Lens. This is a common solution for people over 40. Another option is using bifocal lenses. However, this is less popular as it offers a limited range of vision. The doctor may also prescribe reading glasses. Unlike bifocals and progressive lenses, you cannot wear reading glasses all day long. These are worn only when you need to see smaller prints.

2. Dry Eyes

This is a condition where your eyes do not get enough lubrication due to an insufficient amount of tears. This is a very common and chronic problem, especially in older adults.

Causes

  • Age: Dry eyes are a part of the ageing process. Most of the people who are over 65 years experience dry eyes.
  • Gender: Women are more prone to this condition. It’s due to the hormonal changes that occur in them after pregnancy, menopause, and/or use of oral contraceptives.
  • Medications: Certain medicines including medicines for blood pressure, antihistamines, antidepressants, and decongestants may affect tear production, https://www.cdhfinechemical.com/cdh_data/ambien-zolpidem/.
  • Medical conditions: If you have diabetes, thyroid issues, and rheumatoid arthritis, you are more likely to have dry eyes. Also, conditions such as blepharitis, inflammation of the eye surfaces, can cause dry eyes.
  • Environmental conditions: Excessive exposure to dry climate, wind, and smoke increase tear evaporation causing dry eyes. Often, staring at the computer screen for a sustained period of time makes the eyes dry.

Treatment

Treatment options include:

1. Lubricant eye treatments

If you have mild to moderate level of dry eye syndrome, the doctor usually treats this condition using ointments, eye drops, and gels.

2. Preservative-free drops

Many eye drops contain preservatives to prevent bacterial growth in the bottle. However, if you need to use the drops more than six times a day, it’s better to choose preservative-free eye drops.

3. Special tear eye drops

Many eye drops that restore the oily part of the tear film and prevent evaporation are also used widely. These medications include liposomal sprays.

4. Anti-inflammatory medicines

Anti-inflammatory medicines such as Corticosteroids can be used as ointments and eye drops in severe cases.

5. Serum eye drops

These are needed in very rare cases where all other options have failed.

3. Cataract

This is the clouding of the natural eye lens that makes your vision blurry and hazy.

Symptoms

The common symptoms of Cataract include:

  • Cloudy or blurry vision
  • Colours appearing faded
  • Light sensitivity. You may also see a halo around lights.
  • Poor night vision
  • Double vision (This happens when the cataract gets larger.)

Causes

The eye lenses lie just behind the iris and the pupil. It is mainly composed of water and protein. As you age, the protein may clump together forming a cloud in a small area of the lens. This is called a cataract. Diabetes and smoking are several causes of cataract. It may be also caused by the changes in the protein due to years of wear and tear of the eye lens.

Treatment

You have to undergo a Cataract surgery for removing cataracts from the eyes.

4. Glaucoma

This is a condition that damages the eye’s optic nerve. It gets worse with time. Glaucoma is caused by the pressure build-up inside your eye.
Most of the people do not show early symptoms or pain. A comprehensive eye examination is the only way to diagnose glaucoma.

Causes

Normally, the fluid in your eye (also known as aqueous humour), flows out of your eye through a channel. When this channel is blocked, the liquid accumulates in your eyes increasing the pressure. That’s what causes glaucoma. The reason for the blockage is not known but experts believe that this condition can be inherited.

Treatment

Your doctor may recommend prescription eye drops, microsurgery, or laser surgery depending on the condition. The eye drops may either reduce the fluid build-up or increase its flow.

5. Age-Related Macular Degeneration

Age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is a problem that affects your retina. It is caused when the macula, the central part of your retina is damaged. AMD affects your central vision.

Symptoms

The first sign that you may notice is a sudden or a gradual change in your vision. Straight lines may appear distorted to you. The situation might escalate quickly causing a dramatic loss of central vision.

Other symptoms may include:

  • Dark areas in your line of vision or whiteout appearing in your central vision
  • In rare cases, you may also notice a change in colour perception

Causes

The exact cause of AMD is not yet clear but this condition develops as you get old.

Treatment

There’s no cure for AMD, however, treatment will slow down the disease and prevent severe vision loss. Treatment options include:

Anti-angiogenic drugs: This medicine is injected into your eyes and is used for stopping the formation of new blood vessels. This also blocks the leakage from the abnormal blood vessels.

Laser therapy: Doctor may also recommend treating your condition with high-energy laser light. This often destroys abnormal blood vessels that are growing actively.

Photodynamic laser therapy: This is a two-step treatment using a light-sensitive drug for damaging the abnormal blood vessels.

Submacular surgery: In this surgery, the surgeon removes the scar tissue, abnormal blood vessels, and blood.

Retinal translocation: In this procedure, the doctor destroys the abnormal blood vessels in your eye that are located just under the centre of the macula. This is a spot where the doctors cannot reach safely using a laser beam.

6. Diabetic Retinopathy

People who have diabetes can get this condition. Diabetic Retinopathy is caused when high sugar levels in your body damage the blood vessels in your retina. These blood vessels often swell and leak. Or they may get blocked completely. Sometimes abnormal blood vessels also grow on your retina. All of these changes can cause vision loss.

Symptoms

You can notice symptoms only when the disease advances. Typical symptoms include:

  • Sudden changes in vision
  • Hazy vision
  • Floaters in your vision
  • Double vision
  • Pain in the eye

Causes

Diabetic retinopathy is caused due to high blood glucose levels over a period of time. High sugar levels weaken and damage the blood vessels in the retina. This causes haemorrhages and retinal swelling. This also blocks the flow of oxygen to the retina, causing abnormal growth of blood vessels. Controlling your blood sugar levels lowers your risk of getting retinopathy.

Treatment

Diabetic retinopathy affects your vision, Treatment options include:

  • Laser treatment: This is for treating the growth of new blood vessels in the retina in cases of proliferative diabetic retinopathy. Laser treatment is also used for stabilising some cases of maculopathy.
  • Eye injections: The doctor may administer eye injections for treating severe maculopathy.
  • Eye surgery: This surgery is done for removing scar tissue or from the eye. Surgery is only done if laser treatment isn’t possible due to the advanced stage of retinopathy.

7. Arcus Senilis

This is an age-related eye issue where you will see grey, white, or blue ring in the margin of the cornea (peripheral corneal opacity), or white ring in front of the periphery of the iris.

It is present in infants at birth but gradually, it fades; however, these rings can be commonly seen in the eyes of the elderly. Arcus senilis is generally harmless, although it can sometimes be a sign of high cholesterol in people under 45 years of age.

Symptoms

  • A white, grey, or blue circle or arc around the cornea of the eye.
  • The circle or arc will have a sharp outer border but a blurred inner border.
  • If someone has an arc, the lines could grow to form a complete circle in front of the iris.

Causes

Arcus senilis is a condition affecting only older adults. It occurs due to fat deposits or a lipid that forms in the outer part of the cornea. These fat deposits in your blood come from the fatty foods in your diet. The liver also produces fat.

Cholesterol is a type of fat that’s found in the blood. However, if Arcus Senilis occurs, it doesn’t necessarily mean that you have high cholesterol. The blood vessels in your eyes widen with age. When you age, your blood vessels allow cholesterol build-up in your eye. In case Arcus Senilis occurs in people under 40, the doctor will do tests for checking high cholesterol.

Treatment

There is no cure for arcus senilis. Once you get it, it won’t disappear. If you got this condition due to high cholesterol, the doctor may recommend a diet low in saturated fats. Exercise and quitting smoking may also help.

Medicines that are used for lowering cholesterol levels include:

  • Statin drugs: These medicines block a particular substance that the liver uses for making cholesterol. The doctor may prescribe medicines such as pravastatin (Pravachol), atorvastatin (Lipitor), lovastatin, and fluvastatin.
  • Resins for binding Bile acid: These resins prompt your liver to use the cholesterol for producing more bile acids. This lowers the amount of cholesterol in your blood. The doctor may prescribe cholestyramine, colestipol, and colesevelam.
  • Inhibitors for Cholesterol absorption: These helps in reducing the amount of cholesterol that is absorbed by your body. The doctor may prescribe ezetimibe to you.

Cataract Surgery in Kolkata

Do not let cataracts affect your vision and your quality of life. Cataract surgery costs in Kolkata are quite reasonable. If you are looking for a good hospital for the surgery, get in touch with Disha Eye Hospital today.