While all cataracts impair vision by clouding the eyes’ lenses, not all cataracts are the same. To help patients better understand cataracts, the doctors at Laser Eye Center of Miami have provided this guide to distinguish between the types of cataracts that can develop on the eyes. Read on to learn about nuclear sclerotic cataracts, cortical cataracts, posterior subcapsular cataracts and congenital cataracts:
Nuclear Sclerotic Cataracts
The most common type of cataract is nuclear sclerotic. The term “nuclear” refers to how these cataracts form at the middle of the lens. With time, the lens thickens and changes color. At first the lens looks yellowed but when the cataracts worsen, the eye can appear gray. Interestingly, the eye can lose its ability to distinguish colors as its own color changes.
What makes this kind of cataract unique is that it is known to temporarily improve a patient’s vision initially. Known as “second sight,” this ironic phenomenon enhances one’s ability to look at nearby objects. Unfortunately, this positive effect is fleeting, and the patient’s sight gets drastically worse in the long term.
These cataracts begin to form on the outer layer of the lens. As they worsen, however, the haziness expands inward to reach the nucleus of the eye, which blocks light’s ability to pass through the lens. Patients with cortical cataracts notice symptoms like blurry vision and wavy lines. Prescription lenses are effective at correcting vision when these cataracts are in their early stages, but surgery is necessary as they move inward.
Posterior Subcapsular Cataracts
Posterior subcapsular cataracts form on the back of the lens. While that may seem out of the way, they still pose a problem since that is the area through which light enters the eye. People with these cataracts have an especially hard time seeing at night and reading. Halos can be seen around lights.
Unlike other types of cataracts that progress over a span of years, posterior subcapsular cataracts develop rapidly, becoming severe after a few months.
Although cataracts are generally associated with aging, they can develop at any age. In fact, some children are even born with cataracts. The severity of congenital cataracts varies widely: some kids require no treatment, while others need cataract surgery to see without obstruction.
Find Your Surgeon
The good news is that whatever type of cataracts you have, the experts at Laser Eye Center of Miami have a reliable way to treat it: cataract surgery. To speak to Dr. Gabriel Lazcano and Dr. Abraham Awad about the many benefits of cataract surgery, please call (305) 443-4733 for a consultation.
Ingawa cataracts zote huharibu uwezo wa kuona kwa kuficha lensi za macho, si cataracts zote zinazofanana. Kwa sababu ya kuathiriwa na ugonjwa wa cataracts, daktari wa Laser Eye Center ya Miami ametoa mwongozo huu wa kutofautisha kati ya aina za cataracts ambazo zinaweza kutokea kwenye macho. Kwa mfano, cataracts za nyuklia, cataracts za cortical, cataracts za nyuma za subcapsulary, na cataracts za kuzaliwa, cataracts za nyuklia ni aina ya kawaida ya cataracts. Neno "nyuklia" hurejezea jinsi cataracts hizi zinavyofanyizwa katikati ya lensi. Kadiri wakati unavyopita, lensi hiyo huwa nzito na hubadilika rangi. Mwanzoni lensi huonekana kuwa na rangi ya manjano lakini wakati cataracts zinapoendelea kuwa mbaya zaidi, jicho laweza kuonekana kuwa na rangi ya kijivu. Kwa kweli, jicho laweza kupoteza uwezo wake wa kutofautisha rangi kwa sababu rangi yake mwenyewe hubadilika. Kile kinachofanya aina hii ya cataract kuwa ya kipekee ni kwamba inajulikana kuboresha kwa muda maono ya mgonjwa mwanzoni. Jambo hilo linaloitwa "maono ya pili", linaongeza uwezo wa mtu wa kuona vitu vilivyo karibu. Kwa kusikitisha, athari hiyo nzuri ni ya muda mfupi, na macho ya mgonjwa huharibika sana kwa muda mrefu. Mvua ya jicho huanza kuumbwa kwenye tabaka la nje la lensi. Hata hivyo, kadiri zinavyozidi kuwa mbaya, madoa hayo huenea ndani hadi kwenye kiini cha jicho, na hivyo kuzuia mwanga usipite kwenye lensi. Wagonjwa wenye ugonjwa wa cataract ya cortical huona dalili kama vile maono yasiyo wazi na mistari yenye mawimbi. Lens za kawaida ni bora kwa kurekebisha maono wakati cataracts hizi ziko katika hatua zao za mapema, lakini upasuaji ni muhimu wakati wao kusonga ndani. Cataracts ya nyuma ya subcapsular Cataracts ya nyuma ya subcapsular hufanyiza nyuma ya lensi. Ingawa huenda ikaonekana kuwa ni jambo lisilo la kawaida, bado ni tatizo kwa kuwa hilo ndilo eneo ambalo nuru huingia ndani ya jicho. Watu wenye ugonjwa huo hupata ugumu wa kuona usiku na kusoma. Halos zaweza kuonekana karibu na taa. Tofauti na aina nyingine za cataracts ambazo huendelea kwa miaka mingi, cataracts za nyuma za chini ya capsular huendelea haraka, na kuwa kali baada ya miezi michache. Ingawa kwa kawaida cataracts huhusianishwa na kuzeeka, zinaweza kutokea katika umri wowote. Kwa kweli, watoto fulani hata huzaliwa wakiwa na ugonjwa wa kiwiko. Ugonjwa wa cataract wa kuzaliwa ni hatari sana kwa watoto, na baadhi ya watoto wanahitaji upasuaji wa cataract ili kuona bila vizuizi. Kwa sababu ya ugonjwa wa cataracts, wataalamu wa Laser Eye Center ya Miami wana njia ya kuaminika ya kutibu: upasuaji wa cataracts. Kwa msaada wa Dr. Gabriel Lazcano na Dr. Abraham Awad, tafadhali piga simu kwa (305) 443-4333 kwa ushauri.