Cataract Treatment: Comprehensive Overview and Management

Cataract: A Comprehensive Overview

Cataract is an eye disease that develops in the eye and affects vision. There are two types of cataracts: the first is congenital cataract, which is present from birth, and the second is age-related senile cataract.

Cataracts are cloudiness that develops in the lens portion of the eye, which contains no blood vessels or nerves. Due to the formation of these opacities, the lens loses its transparency. Yellow or brown spots typically appear on it and affect the person's vision. It can occur in one or both eyes. When it occurs in both eyes, one eye is usually affected much more than the other.

In a healthy person's eye, the transparent lens portion transmits light to the eye and ensures that vision functions properly. However, in an eye with cataract, spots and cloudiness prevent the lens from transmitting light clearly to the eye, and vision problems begin to develop. If advancing cataracts are left untreated, they begin to seriously affect a person's daily life.

In congenital cataracts present from birth, if this cloudiness is located on the iris, doctors intervene and treat it quickly. These diseases generally develop as a result of aging and become evident. For early treatment of this disease and to keep it under control in a timely manner, patients in a certain age group should visit their doctor at regular intervals.

What Are the Symptoms of Cataract?

Age-related cataracts may not show obvious symptoms at the beginning. However, the cloudiness that develops in the lens portion of the eye progressively worsens day by day, and the person begins to notice this cloudiness.

Generally, the symptoms are as follows:

• Blurred or unclear vision,

• Cloudiness in vision,

• Vision appearing hazy or misty,

• Colors appearing duller or faded,

• Difficulty in seeing both distance and near objects,

• Light causing discomfort and glare in the eyes,

• Greater vision problems on sunny days compared to other days,

• Feeling of eye fatigue accompanied by headache,

• If the person wears glasses, frequent changes in prescription,

• Seeing near objects more clearly without glasses,

• Sensation of reduced vision at night, and similar symptoms.

• Signs of lens dislocation following cataract surgery

How Is Cataract Surgery Performed?

Cataract is a treatable and manageable eye disease. The surgery is completed quickly and the patient begins the recovery process. The surgery is typically performed under local anesthesia. The clouded lens is removed using ultrasonic vibrations. For this purpose, a 2-3 mm tunnel incision is made.

After the cleaning procedure is completed, high-quality intraocular lenses are placed inside the eye and the patient is treated. Following this operation, the person no longer needs to wear glasses.

Cataract surgery takes approximately 30 minutes. The eye drops prescribed by the doctor are used for 3-4 weeks after surgery. After the surgery, necessary follow-up examinations are performed and the patient is discharged immediately. There is no need for hospitalization. If cataract symptoms are present in both eyes simultaneously, the doctor performs the surgeries at intervals. Both eyes are not operated on the same day.

Cost of Cataract Surgery in Turkey

Like in many other fields, Turkey ranks among the top preferred countries for eye surgery. The experience of doctors and fully equipped hospitals provide confidence to patients throughout this process.

In particular, the affordable prices of treatment, food, accommodation, and other necessities are among the other reasons for preference. Turkey provides high-quality healthcare services to foreign patients at affordable prices. Foreign patients who regain their health under the care of experienced and empathetic doctors leave Turkey satisfied.

If you are planning to have cataract surgery in Turkey, you can contact us for answers to all your questions, comprehensive information about the surgery, and detailed pricing information.

What Causes Cataract?

Sight is one of the most important abilities that humans possess. Vision is a sense that facilitates human life and, if absent, deeply affects it. Our eyes are perfectly designed organs by nature. They contain large amounts of protein and water. With age, these proteins break down and cause cloudiness in the eye.

Age-related cataracts generally have the following main causes:

• Smoking,

• Intense exposure to sunlight,

• Eye trauma,

• Having diabetes,

• High alcohol consumption,

• History of cataracts in family or relatives,

• Undergoing radiation therapy during a certain period,

• Previous surgical eye procedures,

• Certain medications that trigger cataracts,

• Exposure to polluted air, and similar conditions can cause this disease.

How Long Does Cataract Surgery Take?

With advanced technology and treatment methods, eye surgeries are now being completed more easily. One of these is cataract surgery. This surgery, which takes approximately 30 minutes, aims to restore clarity to the person's vision and improve their quality of life.

Problems After Cataract Surgery

Following the surgery, certain complications may develop, but these are not irreversible. For example, pain and itching sensation following surgery are quite normal.

For the eye to fully heal, approximately 2 months must pass. During this period, vision problems may occur in very bright environments. Using all medications prescribed by the doctor on time and regularly is very important. For any additional problems you experience, you can contact your doctor.

How Is Intraocular Lens Dislocation Recognized After Cataract Surgery?

Cataract is a commonly seen eye disease in our time and is successfully treated. The treatment methods and equipment used in these surgeries are state-of-the-art and continue to be developed to improve patients' lives.

Following cataract surgery treatment, lens dislocation rarely occurs in the intraocular lenses placed in place of the removed clouded lens. The signs of this are as follows:

• Blurred vision and double vision occurring in the person's sight,

• Noticing the implanted lens, among other symptoms.

Risks of Cataract Surgery in the Elderly

Every surgery has its own risks and complications. Generally, age-related cataract surgery in elderly people may involve certain risks due to their age. These can be listed as follows:

• Inability of elderly persons to lie flat on their back during surgical operation,

• Corneal damage due to excessive energy used during the treatment of hard cataracts in the eye,

• Difficulty in measuring intraocular lenses in elderly people,

• Occurrence of bleeding inside the eye,

• Preference for older surgical techniques with suturing,

• Complications arising from insufficient pupil dilation, among other existing risks.

What Happens If I Don't Have Cataract Surgery?

Generally, people who are afraid of the surgery idea delay treatment. As a result of these delays, cataracts progress and lead to complete vision clouding. Advanced cataracts become more difficult to operate on and complications are more likely to develop.