Can cataracts be prevented? Experts say

The incidence of cataracts in people aged 60 to 89 in China is about 80%, and the incidence of cataracts in people over 90 is as high as over 90%. This common eye disease in the elderly is caused by aging, genetics, local nutritional disorders, immune and metabolic abnormalities, trauma, poisoning, radiation, etc., which causes lens metabolism disorders, resulting in lens protein denaturation and turbidity. Cataracts can affect vision, causing patients to see things blurry, and in severe cases, even blindness.

What are the early signs? Blurred vision, double vision in one eye, abnormal color vision, day blindness or night blindness, fixed-position, unchanging dot-shaped or sheet-shaped dark shadows in front of the eyes, and whether the symptoms of presbyopia have been alleviated are all early signs of cataracts. If there is a gradual, painless decrease in vision, consider the possibility of cataracts and seek medical attention in time.

Can medication delay cataract? Doctors say: Cataract is a normal aging process of organs. So far, there is no effective drug to treat cataracts. Surgery is one of the ways to treat cataracts. The early or late onset of cataracts is related to whether the individual has metabolic diseases and the individual's work environment. It is recommended that cataract patients or middle-aged and elderly people wear sunglasses when going out during periods of strong ultraviolet rays.

How to prevent and delay senile cataracts Senile cataracts are inevitable. They are a manifestation of eye aging. As we age, various functions of the eyes degenerate, and the lens is prone to turbidity, which leads to cataract formation. The older we are, the higher the chance of getting the disease. However, some measures can be taken to delay the formation of cataracts.

In daily life, develop a healthy lifestyle: eat less high-calorie, high-fat foods, avoid smoking or drinking; take sun protection measures during daily travel to reduce ultraviolet stimulation; if you have systemic diseases, you should cooperate with doctors for active treatment, which can effectively alleviate the occurrence and development of cataracts.

Avoid long-term strong light exposure: When exposed to strong light, especially for outdoor workers, such as fishermen and farmers, wearing sunglasses or sun hats to block the strong light can effectively prevent ultraviolet damage to the lens and play a good preventive role. At the same time, we should also control the use time of mobile phones and other electronic products, and do not turn off the lights for a long time at night to play with mobile phones.

Be careful to prevent eye injuries in daily life: Whether it is mechanical, chemical, thermal or radioactive eye injuries, when the lens capsule is injured, once the capsule is ruptured, the aqueous humor will seep in and directly contact the crystal protein, and the lens fibers may swell and become turbid. If an eye injury occurs, it is recommended to go to the hospital as soon as possible.

Control chronic diseases such as diabetes: Diabetic patients should control blood sugar as much as possible, because blood sugar fluctuations play a vital role in the occurrence and development of cataracts. For the lens, long-term high blood sugar levels may cause the occurrence of cataracts or accelerate their development, so diabetic patients should have regular eye health examinations. In addition, high blood pressure and hypothyroidism may also cause cataracts, so these diseases need to be controlled.

Warm reminder: Surgery is currently the only effective treatment for cataracts. Currently, there is no drug with definite evidence to treat cataracts. The more "mature" the cataract is, the more difficult the surgery is, the slower the vision will recover, and the higher the risk of complications. As long as cataracts affect vision and quality of life, surgical treatment should be actively performed.