Table of contents:
- What is traumatic cataract?
- What are the causes of traumatic cataracts?
- How to deal with traumatic cataracts?
- How can you prevent this condition?
Cataract is a condition when the transparent lens of the eye turns cloudy and makes vision cloudy. There are various types of cataracts that are differentiated based on their cause. Traumatic cataract is a type of clouding of the eye lens that occurs due to trauma to the eye. Check out the full review below.
What is traumatic cataract?
Traumatic cataract is clouding of the eye lens that may occur after an eye injury or trauma due to a blunt or penetrating object interfering with the lens fibers.
Traumatic cataracts are separated from cataracts in general because they look different from ordinary cataracts.
In traumatic cataracts, your eye condition may experience:
- Torn cornea
- Iris is injured
- Vitreous hemorrhage
- Tear of the retina
Quoted from the American Academy of Ophthalmology, trauma to the eye is a relatively common condition. About one in five adults have experienced eye trauma during the course of their life.
What are the causes of traumatic cataracts?
As the name implies, the cause of this type of cataract is trauma that results in damage to the lens. Quoted from Journal of Ocular Biologyit is estimated that 65% of cases of eye trauma result in cataracts and are a cause of long-term vision loss.
The opacity of the lens in the eye can occur soon after trauma to the eye, or it may take years to develop. The formed lens opacities usually depend on the nature and extent of the trauma.
Meanwhile, according to Journal of Ophthalmology, the causes of traumatic cataracts are complicated to discuss. This condition may be the result of one of the following things:
- Rupture of the lens capsule
- Lens metabolic disorders
- Oscillation (movement or shake) of the lens skin caused by impact
Mist from a traumatic cataract may appear in a more irregular shape compared to other types of cataracts. The physical appearance of traumatic cataracts is not well documented.
How to deal with traumatic cataracts?
The most effective way to treat cataract eyes is surgery. However, this type of cataract surgery is more complicated than other cataracts.
There are several considerations that you need to make before deciding to carry out a cataract surgery procedure, namely:
- Types of trauma. The doctor needs to determine whether the eye trauma is penetrating (sharp object) or blunt.
- Overall health. Some health conditions, such as diabetes or hypertension, can increase your risk of complications after surgery.
- Anesthetic options. The choice of anesthesia depends on several factors related to your condition, such as the type of trauma, age, health status, eye characteristics, estimated duration of the procedure, and surgeon comfort.
- Aseptic and antiseptic procedures. The doctor who treats you must pay attention to hygiene before and after surgery to avoid further eye damage.
Based on the condition of the injury, cataract removal surgery is performed in four ways, namely:
- Phacoemulsification, namely a removal procedure by breaking the lens of the eye using ultrasound.
- Extracapsular cataract extraction, namely a procedure by taking the core of the eye lens by opening the front of the eyepiece and maintaining the back of the lens.
- Intracapsular extraction, namely the procedure to remove the entire lens of the eye.
- Lensectomy, a microsurgical procedure that removes part or all of the crystal lens from the eye.
After surgery, you may be given topical corticosteroids and antibiotics. If your eye shows signs of infection, you will need antibiotics immediately. Your eye condition will be monitored for 1 week to 1 year after surgery.
Traumatic cataract surgery carries a risk of complications, such as:
- Vitreous prolapse, that is, when the vitreous (the fluid that fills the space between the lens and retina) is dislodged and comes out of its place in the eyeball space. This condition presents as a brownish discoloration under the conjunctiva and is often mistaken for blood. Vitreous prolapse can lead to a variety of eye diseases, including retinal detachment.
- Hyphema, which is a condition when blood collects at the front of the eye. When you have this complication, the surgeon should wash and remove the blood immediately to reduce the risk of hematocornea (blood stain on the cornea).
How can you prevent this condition?
Traumatic cataracts can be prevented by preventing injury to the eye itself. Quoted from the Mayo Clinic, here are some tips to avoid eye injuries:
- Wear glasses when doing risky activities
- Use special glasses when in contact with chemicals
- Supervise your children when using sharp tools, such as pencils, scissors, and knives
- Store dangerous tools, such as chainsaws and chemicals, in places that are difficult for children to reach
Contact your doctor immediately if you or someone closest to you experiences the following symptoms of an eye injury:
- Real pain, difficulty opening your eyes or seeing
- Cut or torn eyelids
- One eye doesn't move as well as the other
- One eye is more prominent than the other
- Unusual pupil size or shape
- Blood on the whites of the eyes
- Objects in the eye or under the eyelid cannot be removed easily
As a first step, you may also be able to match the symptoms you are feeling here. However, it's best to still go to the doctor for a more definite answer.
When an eye injury occurs, immediately visit the nearest ophthalmologist even if the injury is not visible. Delaying treatment can lead to vision loss or permanent blindness.
