Diabetes And Cataracts

Cataracts is a complication of diabetes. Be aware of it's symptoms and treatment...

A cataract is a any clouding or haziness in the eye's natural lens.  It is not a tumor, and infection, or any type of growth of skin over the eye.  Once you have a cataract you don't necessarily have to do anything about it or worry that you will lose all your eyesight from it.   A cataract doesn't cause any harm to the eye other than blurring your eyesight.  A cataract should be removed when the loss of vision is compromised to the point where the person can't function normally.

Cataracts can be caused my eye trauma, certaininflammatory eye diseases, metabolic body conditions, hereditary or birth defects and some medications.   Cataracts are not caused or made worse by reading, sitting too close to the television or by using your eyes for any normal vision task.

At first, cataracts may not be noticeable.  The symptoms may only be in dim light or when facing bright oncoming car headlights at first.  Most kinds of cataracts progress slowly over several years.  Here are some symptoms of cataracts:

a) seeing halos around lights especially at night
b) having hazy or double vision
c) seeing a lot of glare when outside or when looking
at car headlights
d) your new glasses don't help your vision improve
e) you feel like you're looking through a cloudy piece of glass, veils or a waterfall
f) your dark pupil looks gray, yellow or white
g) colors look dull
 

WAYS TO TREAT A CATARACT

At the present time the only way to restore visual loss from cataracts is by surgical removal of the cloudy lens.  Some researchers have shows that the process can be slowed by certain nutritional supplements.  Other treatments such as medications and exercise don't help at all.  If the cataract is small and the vision is acceptable, surgery might be postponed for some time by changing an eyeglass prescription.
 

SURGERY

Cataract surgery is a very common and safe operation.  The success rate is about 95 percent.  This high success rate is due to advances in microscopic surgical techniques, improved instruments, and refinements in surgical needles and sutures.  Advances have also been made in permanently implantable lenses that can be placed in the eye.

Although most patients benefit from having cataract surgery, it is not the case for everyone.  Some people might not have sharp eyesight after having surgery.  Other eye disease might make having 20/20 vision impossible and there might also be complications as a result of having the surgery.
 

RISKS OF SURGERY

As with any surgery there are risks associated with cataract surgery.  The surgery should only be done after careful consideration of the possible risks and complications.  A small number of people might get post-operative infections, bleeding, glaucoma, corneal problems, chronic inflammation, and retinal detachment.  These are rare but must be evaluated when considering having cataract surgery.

Here are some questions to ask yourself before deciding to have cataract surgery:

a) Do you need to drive but there's too much glare from the sun or headlights?
b) Can you see well enough to do your job?
c) Can you see well enough to do things around the  house?
d) Do you see well enough to do your normal daily activities (reading, watching television, sewing,  playing cards, etc...)?
e) Are you bumping into things?
 

HOW IS THE SURGERY DONE?

One type of cataract surgery involves making a small opening in the front of the eye after the person is given suitable anesthesia (these might be small drops placed in the eye).  An instrument is inserted through this opening to remove the lens with the cataract.  The surgeon operates while looking through a microscope that magnifies the eye.  The anesthetized eye is (should be) comfortable during the surgery, while it remains in it's natural position.  It is almost unheard of today for a patient to need general anesthesia for cataract surgery.

Most cataract surgery today is done with an ultrasound probe.  The probe is inserted into the eye and high-frequency sound waves are used to break up the cataract.  The cataract is then vacuumed from the eye through the internal tube of the probe.

Cataract surgery is most often done on a out-patient basis.  A majority of patients can resume most of their normal activities with a day or two.  This is especially true for patients who have the type of surgery involving making a small incision.  It's pefectly alright to use the eyes for reading, housework and watching television as soon as the person gets home (unless told to do otherwise by their doctor).  Vigorous activities such as sports can be resumed in four to six weeks.
 

AFTER THE SURGERY

It's important to realize the cataract surgery is not a cure for all eye problems.  Most people will require eyeglasses for distance vision, and all patients will require eyeglasses for reading papers and books once the natural lens of the eye is removed.    The surgeon can also put in permanent replacement lens that will help the vision.  The cataract surgery removes the natural lens of the eye that helps focus light rays for a clean image on the retina (the back portion of the eye).  Without the natural lens, vision is severely decreased.  The permanent replacement lens will permit a person to see images that are normal in size, shape and color, while also allowing for good depth perception and peripheral vision.  There also might be problems with the permanent replacement lens fogging up.  This can be corrected by your doctor.