Laura

The ageing process is something that is bound to happen to everyone.  Some things can be avoided, or at least slowed down, and others cannot.  Cataracts is unavoidable.  Cataracts is an eye disease that will eventually happen to everyone if they live long enough to experience it (Rubin 125).

According to Biology of Humans:  Concepts, Applications, and Issues Cataracts is “A lens that has become cloudy or opaque, usually because of ageing.” (171)  This eye disease affects more than 20.5 million Americans (Chang 4).  Most people diagnosed with Cataracts are above the age of 50 (Goodenough 171).  However, most people are unaware that they have Cataracts until they have reached the age of sixty or seventy (Rubin 125).

There are numerous reasons why people contract the disease of Cataracts, such as the following:  age, eye injury, certain eye diseases, medical conditions, heredity, birth defect, medication, excessive alcohol consumption, smoking, and ultraviolet B light (Rubin 125).  The cause of Cataracts will determine what type of Cataracts is diagnosed, or visa versa.  There are three types of Cataracts, Senile Cataracts, Congenital Cataracts, and Secondary Cataracts.  Senile Cataracts is caused from the ageing process.  The lens of the eye is continuously growing throughout life and adds additional cell layers that are compact, rigid, and less transparent.  Senile Cataracts is the most common type of Cataracts (Eden 110).

Congenital Cataracts is present at birth.  An event during fetal development causes Congenital Cataracts.  One known cause is the mother being exposed to rubella (German Measles) during her first trimester of pregnancy.  Congenital Cataracts is the rarest type of Cataracts (Eden 110). 

Secondary Cataracts is caused from something other then age or birth, such as one of the causes that was previously mentioned (Eden 110).  Smoking causes twenty percent of people with Cataracts.  Even people that have quit smoking are at higher risk of contracting Cataracts.  Smoking dims vision (Goodenough 318).  Type I Diabetes is also linked to Cataracts due to the accumulation of glucose on the lens of the eye (Goodenough 170).  Certain types of medications are also known to cause Cataracts, such as steroids, diuretics, and tranquilizers (Rubin 125).

If it is time to have the Cataracts removed if the doctor recommends that surgery should be done or when it begins to complicate your daily activities.  Removal is simple and the pain is minimal.  Doctors are able to perform the surgery in either a surgical suite or in a hospital.  During surgery the eye is not pulled out of socket.  The eye remains in its natural position.  The clouded lens is then removed with a needle that vibrates at a high speed to break up the Cataracts.  The tiny pieces are then suctioned out and an intraocular lens (IOL) is inserted.  The eye can be closed with or without stitches.  Most people stay awake for the surgery and have anestics to numb the pain.  The patient will often get an injection under the eye to numb the pain and to paralyze the eye muscles during surgery.  The lids of the eye may also be injected to keep the patient from squeezing them during surgery (Rubin 127-130).

After surgery is performed the patient should wear sunglasses that are medium in density and protect the eye from ultraviolet light.  Glasses inside and sunglasses outside are recommended for protecting the eye.  The patient should never rub the eye and should always wear a plastic or metal shield over the eye while sleeping for about one month.  Eye drops prescribed by the doctor should be used about twice per day to cleanse the eye.  The patient should be extra cautious and use care for about six weeks since that is about how long the healing process will take (Rubin 128).

Although Cataracts will happen to everyone if they live long enough, there are some ways to reduce the risk of Cataracts, or at least slow the process down.  One way is to consume antioxidants, such as vitamins C and E.  Another way is to consume polyunsaturated fats and proteins to protect the eyes.  Treatments such as exercise and medications do not treat Cataracts.  Surgery is needed to get rid of Cataracts.  The surgery has a ninety-five percent success rate and is one of the safest surgeries preformed today (Rubin 126).  Cataracts is nothing to be scared of, it happens to everyone.  Cataracts is an easy problem to correct.

Works Cited

Chang, David F., M.D., Howard Gimbel, M.D.  Cataracts:  A Patient’s Guide to

            Treatment.  Omaha:  Addicus Books, Inc., 2004.

Eden, John, M.D.  The Physician’s Guide to Cataracts, Glaucoma, and Other Eye

            Problems.  Yonkers:  Consumers Union of United States, Inc., 1992.

Goodenough, Judith, Betty McGuire, and Robert A. Wallace.  Biology of Humans: 

            Concepts, Applications, and Issues.  Upper Saddle River:  Pearson Education,

            Inc., 2005.

Rubin, Melvin L., M.D., M.S., and Lawrence A. Winograd, M.D.  Taking Care of Your             Eyes:  A Collection of the Patient Education Handouts Used By America’s

            Leading Eye Doctors.  Gainesville:  Triad Publishing Company, 2002.