Presbyopia and Cataract Surgery: Procedures and Post-operative Care
1. The Onset of Aging
Just as a smartphone's battery performance diminishes with prolonged use, leading to malfunctions, the human body gradually loses its physical functions over time. This is known as aging. While aging is a natural process for everyone, the eyes can age relatively quickly compared to other parts of the body, requiring special attention.
When the eyes begin to age, you may experience decreased vision, dry eyes, and more frequent eye fatigue. These changes can significantly impact daily life, causing difficulty reading close-up text or driving at night, and potentially leading to more serious problems over time. Eye aging can diminish the quality of life, making prevention and management crucial. With the increasing use of digital devices, more people are experiencing early eye aging. Therefore, regular eye exams and healthy lifestyle habits are essential for maintaining eye health. Managing screen time is also important to reduce strain on the eyes, as eye damage is often difficult to reverse. Prioritizing eye health is crucial.
2. Preventing Eye Aging
When using smartphones, make a conscious effort to blink frequently to prevent dry eyes. Take breaks every 20 minutes by closing your eyes or looking at distant objects. Use devices in an upright posture rather than lying down, and avoid using them on bumpy rides like buses or subways. On sunny days, protect your eyes with UV-blocking eyewear.
3. Presbyopia: Deterioration of Near Vision
As the eyes age, various eye conditions can develop, with presbyopia and cataracts being the most common. Presbyopia, typically occurring in the late 40s, is a condition where the lens loses its ability to adjust, leading to a decline in near vision. While reading glasses can improve near vision, presbyopia correction surgery is an option for those who find glasses inconvenient. However, this surgery is usually considered when cataracts are not present.
4. Cataracts: Easily Confused with Presbyopia
Cataracts, commonly developing in the late 60s, are characterized by the clouding of the normally clear lens of the eye. This clouding usually progresses slowly over time, often going unnoticed or mistaken for presbyopia symptoms. Unlike presbyopia, cataracts are difficult to correct with glasses beyond the very early stages. Delaying treatment or surgery can lead to more serious complications, making early detection and intervention crucial.
In the early stages, cataract surgery may not be immediately necessary. Depending on the symptoms, medication may be considered. If vision is blurry or hazy but still allows for normal daily activities, medication can slow the progression of clouding. While medication does not reverse the clouding, it may postpone the need for surgery if effective. However, if the medication is ineffective, vision continues to deteriorate and cataract symptoms become more pronounced, interfering with daily life, cataract surgery should be considered.
5. Various Factors Contributing to Cataracts
While age-related, cataracts can also be caused by other factors. Congenital cataracts can be hereditary, meaning individuals are born with cataracts or develop them at a young age. Regular check-ups are important if there is a family history. Acquired cataracts can result from trauma, diabetes, medication use, excessive UV exposure, or nutritional deficiencies. Long-term use of steroid medications can lead to cataracts and other eye conditions like glaucoma, so consulting with a healthcare professional is essential for proper treatment.
As the clouding worsens, a wider range of presbyopia and cataract symptoms may occur. These include seeing multiple images of an object, having clearer vision at night than during the day, perceiving colors as yellowish, and experiencing distorted vision. These symptoms can significantly impact daily life, potentially requiring prompt surgery.
6. Surgical Procedure
Cataract surgery involves removing the clouded lens and replacing it with an artificial intraocular lens (IOL) to restore vision. The procedure is performed through a small 2-3mm incision in the cornea. Due to the small incision size, recovery is typically quick, with most patients returning to normal activities within 1-2 weeks. However, this depends on proper post-operative care.
7. Post-operative Care
Post-operative care focuses on minimizing strain on the eyes. Limit the use of smartphones, computers, and other digital devices to prevent eye fatigue. Administer prescribed eye drops on time and do not discontinue use without consulting your doctor. Avoid washing the eyes with water for a while due to the increased risk of infection. To prevent complications like glaucoma from increased eye pressure, avoid sleeping face down or bending over. Refrain from rubbing your eyes and protect them from UV exposure with protective eyewear when going outside.
8. Choosing an Intraocular Lens (IOL)
There are many types of IOLs available. For patients with both presbyopia and cataracts, multifocal IOLs, such as the Johnson & Johnson Tecnis Odyssey, are recommended to correct focus at all distances. The Tecnis Odyssey provides clear vision without the need for reading glasses and offers a high level of satisfaction. It provides a continuous range of vision and utilizes UV-Violet Light Filtering technology to block some blue light. When considering IOLs, it's important to choose a lens that best suits the patient's eye condition and lifestyle, rather than focusing solely on the lens's pros, cons, or price, as this choice will significantly impact their future quality of life.
Since aging is a natural phenomenon, these conditions are sometimes neglected. However, cataracts can lead to blindness if left untreated. Early detection is crucial. If you haven't been taking care of your eyes, start managing them carefully from today to protect your eye health, detect diseases early, and take adequate measures.
Source :https://blog.naver.com/whgus4231/223996236346
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