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6 Useful Insights on Cataracts Curated By Disha Eye Hospitals

eye specialist in kolkata

Did you know that cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in the world? In fact, according to the World Health Organisation, there are over 94 million people who are blind due to cataracts. If you have been diagnosed with cataracts, it’s important to learn everything about the condition to make informed decisions about your treatment. In this blog post, we will provide some useful insights on cataracts. 

Insight 1. What are cataracts?

Cataracts are a common condition that causes blurry vision. They happen when the eye’s lens becomes cloudy or opaque, making it difficult to see. 

Cataracts usually develop slowly and can eventually lead to blindness if not treated. Surgery is the only way to remove cataracts and restore clear vision. 

Cataracts are most often caused by ageing, but they can also be caused by trauma, certain medications or other health conditions. Anyone can develop cataracts, but they are more common in older adults. 

There is no prevention for cataracts, but surgery can usually correct the problem. The earlier you catch the symptoms, the better your chances of a successful surgery. 

If you think you might have cataracts, make an appointment with your eye doctor or an eye specialist. They will be able to guide you and help you with the right treatment plan.

If you live in Kolkata and are looking for an eye specialist in Kolkata for cataracts treatment, get in touch with us.

Insight 2. What are the types of cataracts?

There are two main types of cataracts: 

  • Nuclear cataracts
  • Cortical cataracts

Nuclear cataracts develop in the centre of the lens, while cortical cataracts develop in the outer edges of the lens.

Insight 3. What are the symptoms of cataracts? 

Symptoms of cataracts include blurry vision, difficulty seeing at night and increased sensitivity to light. In some cases, people  may also see “halos” around lights. However, if the cataracts are very advanced, it can cause discomfort from the glare of bright lights. Here’s a useful read on the symptoms of cataracts that you must know. 

Insight 4. Do your eyes hurt when you have cataracts?

Cataracts are not painful. They just affect your vision, causing blurriness or distortion. 

Insight 5. How quickly do cataracts worsen?

Cataracts typically worsen over time. However, the rate at which they worsen varies from person to person. In some cases, cataracts may not cause any symptoms for years. In other cases, they may progress rapidly and cause severe symptoms.

Insight 6. At what stage should cataracts be removed?

There is no set stage at which cataracts must be removed. The decision to remove cataracts is typically based on the severity of the symptoms and the impact on a person’s quality of life. In most cases, cataracts are removed when they cause significant vision problems. However, some people may choose to have cataracts removed for cosmetic reasons. If you are waiting for cataract surgery, here’s an interesting read for you. 

Disha Eye Hospitals offer quality cataracts treatment at an affordable price

We offer the latest in cataracts treatment technology, including laser-assisted cataracts surgery. Our eye surgeons are highly experienced and have a successful track record in treating cataracts. We use the best possible equipment and techniques to ensure that our patients receive the best possible care; moreover, we have some of the best eye specialists in Kolkata for cataract treatment. 

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Simple Adjustments Around The Home Can Help Those With Low Vision Eye: Useful Insights By A Leading Eye Hospital

Low vision can be quite challenging at any age. Besides making it difficult to read and drive, there are many other problems that people with low vision have to face. As one of the leading eye hospitals in Kolkata, we offer several eye tests to check that your eyes are healthy and vision is good.

Simple Adjustments Around The Home

Check out these solutions to help your family member around the home 

 

  • Increase the contrast: Setting brightly coloured accessories around the home will help your family members easily find items. Painting door frames, door and doorknobs in a lighter colour than the walls will allow a person with low vision to know if a door is open or shut. Similarly, steps of the stairs should be marked with bright colour stickers. This will reduce the chances of missteps and falls. Make sure that the colours of the rugs or carpets stand out against the floor’s colour. Also, ensure that the rugs and carpets are anti-skid. 

 

  • Make bathrooms more user-friendly:  Bathrooms can be particularly dangerous for people with low vision. If the bathroom fixtures and tiles are white, it can be challenging to see the edges of tubs, showers, sinks and toilets. Use bright stickers to distinctly mark the edges of these fixtures and shower doors. Adding a dark toilet seat can be also helpful. 

 

  • Make kitchens safer: Kitchen can be a bit dangerous for people with low vision. However, you can make it safer by ensuring that everything is in its place. Use light and dark cutting boards and  mark the dials on your stove with bright stickers. Sharp objects like knives should be properly marked and stored in a safe place. 

 

  • Install proper lighting: Brighter lighting can help with activities such as reading and cooking. In addition to installing overhead lighting, make sure that there are plenty of floor and table lamps. Place them strategically so that the floor is clearly  visible. Use curtains that allow natural light in.

 

  • Remove falling hazards: Shiny floors, rugs and carpets can cause confusion and increase the risk of falling. Instead of wax or other shiny products, use non-glare products to clean floors. Make sure that the electrical cords are properly fixed and not lying on the pathways — this will reduce the risk of falling and injury.

 

  • Arrange  furniture items properly:  Place furniture items with  high contrast upholstery.  Keep low-lying furniture such as footstools, tables and lamps out of the main path of the room. The rooms should have as much open area as possible.

 

  • Embrace technology: Low vision may make it difficult for your family member to use phones, tablets and other gadgets. However, there are different software that you can install in your loved one’s gadgets to help them use technology with greater comfort. 

 

Schedule a regular eye exam and keep the appointments 

Besides making changes around the house, make sure that your family member is getting his/her eyes regularly checked. Several diseases like macular degeneration and glaucoma can cause low vision. When these eye conditions are not properly monitored and treated, symptoms like low vision can get worse.  

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Symptoms Of Common Eye Diseases

It is normal for people to experience eye conditions at some stage in their lives; it could just be an eye infection, blurry vision or a sudden eye pain. Minor infections go away in a week or so, following prescribed medication, but larger problems need the attention of an eye specialist. Some very common eye diseases can potentially damage your eyesight if proper treatment is not received in the right hour. The easiest way to prevent eye diseases from causing irreversible damage to your eyesight, is to include monthly eye checkups in your schedule. Most eye conditions come without a sign of warning, at least in the early stages. When the symptoms begin to show, the disease will have progressed to an advanced stage. A comprehensive eye checkup could help you seek medical attention at the earliest.

common eye diseases
Below is a list of some of the common eye diseases and their symptoms:

1. Cataracts: Though cataracts can develop at any age, they are more common in people above the age of 50. With age, the lens of the eyes tends to cloud, making your vision blurry. The cloudiness appears as the proteins in the eyes clump together and block the vision. Cataracts often develop in one eye, before affecting both.

Symptoms 

  • Blurry vision
  • Difficult night vision 
  • Sensitivity to light 
  • Halos around light


    2. Glaucoma: The optic nerve transfers visual information from retina to the brain. Glaucoma could damage the optic nerve resulting in loss of vision. Glaucoma is an eye condition that causes pressure build-up in the eye. Most people with glaucoma does not experience early symptoms and by the time they do, the disease will have reached an advanced stage. Regular eye check-up is an effective method of detecting glaucoma and preventing it from progressing. There are two types of glaucoma: open-angle and acute-angle. Open-angle gradually damages vision without any symptoms. Acute-angle is treated as a medical emergency as it could steal your vision in a matter of days or hours.

    Symptoms of open-angle glaucoma 
  •  Loss of peripheral vision 

Symptoms of acute-angle glaucoma 

  • Severe pain in the eyes 
  • Blurry vision 
  • Headache


    3. Diabetic Retinopathy: People suffering from prolonged high blood sugar levels are at the risk of developing diabetic retinopathy. Excessive blood sugar levels cause blood vessels to bulge. These bulging blood vessels sometimes leak and ooze fluid into the retina causing blurry vision. People with diabetes should get their eyes checked regularly so that diabetic retinopathy can be detected at an early stage. 

Symptoms of diabetic retinopathy

  • Blurred vision
  • Floaters or dark spots appear in the field of vision
  • poor night vision

     

    4. Age-Related Macular Degeneration (AMD): The condition as the name suggests is age-related, and is commonly seen in older adults. Age-Related Macular Degeneration damages the macula; the central portion of the eye. It affects the central vision making it difficult for those with the condition to see objects that are in the straight line. The condition adversely affects the ability to read and drive. With early detection, you could prevent the condition from further damaging your vision.

    Symptoms

  • Affected central vision, straight lines appear wavy or crooked
  • Difficulty in identifying colours
  • Blurry areas in the centre of vision

     

    Book online consultation with the best eye specialists at Disha Eye Hospitals

We offer treatment for different types of eye conditions and diseases. Our hospitals have the latest equipment and with the help of well-experienced eye specialists, we give you superior-quality eye care at an affordable cost. We have eye hospitals in Kolkata, Barasat, Siliguri and other parts of West Bengal. During the COVID-19 pandemic, we request you to book an online consultation.

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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.