Can cataracts be treated without surgery?

Written by Hu Shu Fang

Ophthalmology

Updated on September 28, 2024

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In the early stages of cataracts, if one's vision is still greater than 0.3 and they feel it does not affect daily life, it is possible to initially observe without immediate intervention. If the cataracts have significantly worsened vision and greatly impacted the quality of life, and the severity of the cataracts is considerable, then it is advisable to undergo cataract surgery at an appropriate time. Currently, cataract surgery is very advanced, and the only treatment option for cataracts is surgical intervention, as medication is not very effective.

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Written by Hu Shu Fang

Ophthalmology

41sec

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Does cataract cause headache?

The main symptoms of cataracts include a decline in vision, with both near and far objects appearing unclear, and blurry vision. There is no significant eye pain or headaches, nor does it cause redness in the eyes. If headaches do occur, it is important to investigate the cause, such as checking if there is an increase in eye pressure or if the headache is caused by glaucoma, and to treat according to the specific cause. However, in the later stages or over-mature stage of cataracts, the lens may dissolve, which can potentially lead to phacolytic glaucoma, but this condition is very rare.

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Written by Tao Yuan

Ophthalmology

43sec

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Cataract Causes

Cataracts can be caused by many reasons, with the following common scenarios: First, due to aging factors, as age increases, the proteins in the lens of the eye gradually degenerate, leading to cloudiness and reduced transparency of the lens, ultimately resulting in cataracts. Second, cataracts can be caused by eye trauma, where a significant impact can damage the structure of the lens. Third, they can be caused by chronic inflammation within the eye, such as uveitis or iridocyclitis, where the inflammation leads to the degeneration of lens proteins. Fourth, long-term use of steroid medications can affect the metabolism of lens proteins, thereby leading to the development of cataracts.

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Written by Peng Xi Feng

Ophthalmology

50sec

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Cataracts are a condition of the eye.

Cataracts are degenerative changes causing a decline in optical quality, which are due to the decreased transparency or color change of a structure in the eye called the lens. The pathogenesis of cataracts is quite complex, resulting from the long-term combined effects of various internal and external factors on the lens. The lens is situated in the fluid environment of the eye, and any factor impacting this environment, such as aging, genetics, metabolic abnormalities, trauma, radiation, poisoning, localized nutritional disorders, as well as certain systemic metabolic or immune diseases, can directly or indirectly damage the tissue structure of the lens, interfere with its normal metabolism, and cause the lens to become opaque.

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Written by Peng Xi Feng

Ophthalmology

45sec

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What department should I go to for cataracts?

The department for cataract consultations is ophthalmology. Various factors such as aging, genetics, local nutritional disorders, immune and metabolic abnormalities, trauma, poisoning, radiation, etc., can cause metabolic disturbances in the lens, leading to the denaturation of lens proteins and resulting in opacity, known as cataracts. At this time, light is obstructed by the cloudy lens and cannot be projected onto the retina, causing blurred vision. This condition is commonly seen in individuals over forty years old, and the incidence increases with age. The disease can also be divided into congenital cataracts and acquired cataracts.

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Written by Zhou Qing

Ophthalmology

1min 24sec

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Early symptoms of cataracts

The early symptoms of cataracts can manifest as day blindness or night blindness. When the cloudiness of the lens originates from the middle of the eye, the strong daylight and illumination can cause the pupil to contract, which then blocks the light from entering the eye, resulting in day blindness. When the cloudiness of the lens is located around the periphery of the eye, the dim light at night cannot reach the peripheral retina, thus causing night blindness. Other early symptoms of cataracts include the following: when the cloudiness of the lens is located at the pupil, patients may see fixed dots or patches of shadow in front of their eyes. However, since cataracts share similar characteristics with floaters, they should be distinguished; the shadows in floaters can move, while the shadows in cataracts are fixed. Varying degrees of blurry vision are also early symptoms of cataracts. Patients may experience gradually increasing blurriness of vision, often perceiving halos around lights or seeing colors of objects as dull and unclear. The early development of cataracts is quite slow and can be determined by the deepest and most obvious part of the lens cloudiness and its development condition.