Cataract is a degenerative eye disease that generally occurs in the elderly. As we age, the lens of the eye becomes cloudy and opaque. If not appropriately treated and routinely, cataracts will cause blindness.
What are the symptoms and causes? You need to know and understand more about this disease katarak in the eyes.
Cataract is an eye disorder with symptoms of blurred and cloudy vision.
Cataract is a cloudy condition in the eye’s lens due to the formation of proteins that change its structure. You can imagine seeing blurry shadows and fog on the windows—namely, the condition of cataract sufferers when looking around, driving a car at night, and reading.
This cataract disorder attacks the eyes without realizing it as we age slowly. If not treated properly and quickly, you could experience blindness.
Cataracts can also occur in children.
So far, people still think that cataracts can only be experienced by older adults. However, cataracts, which can lead to blindness, can also be experienced by children.
The individual factor is the increasing life expectancy in Indonesia, thereby increasing the risk of cataracts. Also, genetic factors or congenital abnormalities from birth. This factor causes cataracts also to be experienced by children.
Protective factors cause attention or lack of awareness in maintaining eye health. Although it is still a matter of debate among experts, good nutrition and Vitamin E have been proven to protect eye health.
There are several factors that cause cataracts, including:
- Age
Age is one of the main causes of occurrence Mata katarak. Lens protein in the eye decreases with age. Apart from these factors, environmental factors can also cause cataracts to appear.
- Eye trauma
Eye trauma can cause thickening, swelling, and a white appearance of the lens fibres. The white color that forms can eventually cause cataracts.
- Genetics
Genetics can also be a factor in causing cataracts because chromosomal abnormalities can affect the quality of the eye lens.
- Skin diseases
Certain skin diseases, such as eczema, pemphigus, ichthyosis, and atopic dermatitis, can affect the condition of the eye lens. This will ultimately also increase the risk of cataracts.
- Infection
Certain types of infections, such as cysticercosis, toxoplasmosis, and leprosy, can trigger cataracts. Therefore, if you experience one of these conditions, treat it immediately before the infection spreads further.
- Diabetes
Diabetes is often considered a disease that can cause cataracts. The reason is that the aldose reductase enzyme in the body of people with diabetes can trigger cataracts.
- Use of certain drugs
Certain types of drugs can affect eye vision. Medications such as corticosteroids can often cause cataracts.
Easy Tips for Maintaining Eye Health
To Keep Your Eyes Healthy, Do This
Few people forget and are unaware that maintaining eye health is essential. The eyes are included in the five most important senses in the human body. Caring for eye health is easy and quite simple. Here are several ways you can maintain eye health:
Consume Healthy Food
Who would have thought that daily food intake could affect eye health? Regularly consume foods containing vitamins C and E, omega-3 fatty acids, zinc and lutein to keep your sense of sight healthy. You can get these nutrients by eating green vegetables, tuna, eggs, nuts, blueberries, blackberries and oranges.
Quit smoking
Smoking habits not only disrupt lung and heart health but can also trigger eye problems. Cigarette smoke that comes into contact with the eyes is said to increase the risk of cataracts, macular degeneration and optic nerve damage, which can cause blindness and retinal damage.
Protective glasses
One way to maintain eye health is to use glasses, especially when doing activities outdoors or in front of the computer. So that your eyes don’t get damaged easily, you can wear anti-radiation glasses if you have to work for a long time in front of a computer. Meanwhile, when doing activities under the hot sun, always wear sunglasses. Not only stylish, wearing sunglasses can help prevent exposure to the sun’s ultraviolet rays on the eyes.
Routine Eye Examination
Regular eye exams can also be the best way to prevent damage. This is because an eye examination can monitor the condition of the area, and any abnormalities or health problems can be immediately detected. People, both elderly and young, both men and women, are advised to regularly have their eyes checked by an ophthalmologist at least once every two years.
An additional tip: you can also maintain eye health by not ignoring various eye problems. Treat your eyes with eye drops or compress them with cold water if they feel itchy or red. If you feel like there are grains of sand in your eyes, rinse them with clean water.
