Is it okay to do cataract surgery for free?

Cataract is a common and well-known eye disease. Cataracts generally refer to lesions in the lens of the eye, which affect vision. Many people are worried about the risks and cure rates of cataract surgery. So is it really a good idea to have cataract surgery for free? Let’s take a look at the secrets of cataract surgery!

Cataract refers to the clouding of the lens inside the eye, which changes from transparent to opaque, blocking light from entering the eye and thus affecting vision. In the early stage, when the opacity is mild or small in range, it does not affect vision, but it gradually worsens to the point of significantly affecting vision or even causing blindness. The decreased vision caused by cataracts cannot be corrected by wearing glasses after cataract surgery.

Cataracts are divided into several types according to their causes: developmental, traumatic, toxic, metabolic, corticosteroid and secondary.

Developmental cataracts are also called congenital cataracts, and there are two types: endogenous and exogenous.

Endogenous causes are related to fetal development disorders and are hereditary; exogenous causes refer to damage to the lens caused by systemic diseases of the mother or fetus. For example, if the mother suffers from viral infections such as rubella, measles, chickenpox, mumps, hypoparathyroidism, malnutrition, vitamin deficiency, etc. within the first 6 months of pregnancy, all of which may cause it.

The main causes of senile cataract formation are protein denaturation, increase in the content of insoluble protein, sodium and calcium, decrease in potassium and vitamin C, and deficiency of glutathione. 85% of the lens protein is water-soluble albumin, which can be converted into insoluble protein. The older the age, the more insoluble protein is contained. In addition, vitamin C deficiency, changes in the pH value of the lens, and the penetration of some toxic substances into the lens can cause the denaturation of lens protein and produce turbidity. For the elderly, oxidative damage to the lens is the initial factor in the formation of cataracts. Risk factors for cataracts include excessive drinking, excessive smoking, too many children in women, and certain systemic diseases. However, the cause of senile cataracts is still not fully understood and needs further research.

Concurrent cataracts are lens opacities caused by certain eye diseases themselves, such as iridocyclitis, choroiditis, retinal detachment, retinitis pigmentosa, glaucoma, high myopia, purulent corneal ulcers, old ocular trauma and other eye diseases can all cause concurrent cataracts.

Traumatic cataracts include mechanical, radiation, and electrical. Metabolic disorders and eye disorders are most commonly seen in the form of diabetic cataracts. Corticosteroid cataracts are caused by long-term and excessive use of corticosteroids locally or systemically.

After-cataract refers to the clouding of the remaining cortex and capsule after extracapsular cataract extraction or linear cataract extraction.

There are two types of cataracts: congenital cataracts and acquired cataracts. The most common is senile cataract, which occurs at around 50 years old and is caused by degenerative changes in the lens. Both eyes can be affected one after the other or simultaneously. Traumatic cataract is the clouding of the lens due to eye trauma. In addition, diabetes, intraocular inflammation, bleeding and other diseases can lead to concurrent cataracts.

The ancient surgical method for treating cataracts was "golden needle to remove the barrier", which is to use a needle to cut the suspensory ligaments around the lens, causing the lens to dislocate. The free lens sinks into the vitreous cavity, and the light that was originally blocked by the cloudy lens can enter the eye. The golden needle therapy can only temporarily solve part of the problem. Since the refractive effect of the lens is gone, the patient has hyperopia equivalent to about 19D (1900 degrees). After the lens sinks into the vitreous cavity, inflammation is inevitable, eventually leading to complete loss of vision.

Protecting eyesight is everyone's responsibility. In order to prevent yourself from developing cataracts, it is recommended that you pay more attention to eye hygiene and eat a balanced diet. Don't stay up late, overuse your eyes or stare at the computer screen or other electronic screens for a long time. You need to look into the distance, relax your eye muscles or give your eyes a massage!