Do cataracts replace the lens?

Written by Zheng Xin

Ophthalmology

Updated on June 03, 2025

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Cataracts refer to the clouding of the lens, leading to decreased vision. Cataract surgery involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial one to restore vision. Simply removing the cataract lens does not restore vision, as it leaves the eye in a highly hyperopic (farsighted) state. An artificial lens must be inserted to improve vision and correct the eye's refractive state. Therefore, cataract surgery necessitates the replacement of the lens.

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Written by Hu Shu Fang

Ophthalmology

58sec

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Postoperative Care for Cataract Surgery

Post-cataract surgery, it is crucial to maintain eye hygiene. Patients must follow the doctor's orders, regularly use antibiotic eye drops to prevent eye infections, and avoid allowing bacteria to enter the eye and cause intraocular inflammation, a very frightening postoperative complication. If intraocular inflammation occurs, the eye will become red and painful, and vision will significantly decrease, necessitating emergency surgery. Therefore, patients should clean their hands, apply eye drops on time, avoid letting tap water enter the eye, and refrain from rubbing their eyes to prevent reopening the wound and bacterial invasion. After surgery, it is also important to keep bowel movements regular to avoid constipation, which can increase abdominal pressure and cause eye pain due to straining.

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Written by Li Min

Ophthalmology

46sec

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Is cataract easy to treat?

If you are diagnosed with cataracts, we generally use surgical methods nowadays. Our surgical approach typically involves cataract phacoemulsification combined with the implantation of an artificial lens. If you have a simple case of cataracts without any other eye diseases—such as glaucoma, diabetic retinopathy, hypertensive retinopathy, or central retinal vein occlusion—the outcome after surgery is generally good. As for the eye drops for treating cataracts advertised on TV, like Sharp Eye Love, their effectiveness is not very certain in our medical practice. Currently, the main method of treating cataracts is still through surgery.

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Written by Wang Hui Zhen

Ophthalmology

1min 1sec

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What are the early symptoms of cataract?

Early symptoms of cataracts are not obvious in some patients, while others may experience mild blurriness of vision. As the lens becomes cloudier, the blurriness will gradually worsen, and symptoms such as nearsightedness, glare, and double vision may also appear. In advanced stages, some may develop glaucoma, leading to symptoms like eye pain, headache, nausea, and vomiting, and in severe cases, it can cause blindness. Cataracts are a common and prevalent eye disease and are the leading cause of blindness worldwide. The lens, an important optical component of the human eye, is normally transparent. Cataracts can form due to various reasons leading to protein degeneration in the lens, causing it to become cloudy and result in various degrees of vision loss. It is recommended that patients with cataracts regularly visit ophthalmologists and consider cataract removal surgery if necessary.

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Written by Hu Shu Fang

Ophthalmology

53sec

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What causes cataracts?

There are many factors that cause cataracts, the most common being age-related cataracts. As we age, we are exposed to ultraviolet rays which can cause degeneration of the lens. The older a person is, the more ultraviolet rays they absorb. Some cataracts are also caused by medications, such as long-term use of steroids. Additionally, some cataracts are caused by trauma; if the lens is accidentally punctured during an injury, it can rapidly deteriorate. There are also congenital cataracts caused by intrauterine infections. The causes are various, and in diabetic patients, their cataracts can progress more quickly because high blood sugar can lead to changes in the osmotic pressure of the lens.

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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.