High-tech cataract treatment

Cataracts are a very common disease, especially in people over 60 years old. It is also the leading cause of blindness in the world.

A phaco surgery performed at Hanoi - Dong Nai Eye Hospital. Photo: Hanh Dung

Master - Doctor Tran Ngoc Hung, Deputy Director of Hanoi - Dong Nai Eye Hospital (Tam Hiep Ward, Dong Nai Province) said: The crystalline lens is a transparent lens that helps light pass through and converge accurately on the retina. Over time, due to the aging process or pathological factors, this structure gradually loses its transparency, causing light to be obstructed, vision to gradually decrease and lead to blindness if not treated promptly.

Early detection to avoid complications

MSc.-MD Tran Ngoc Hung , Deputy Director of Hanoi - Dong Nai Eye Hospital.

● Doctor, what are the typical symptoms of cataracts?

- The first and most common sign is gradually increasing blurred vision. In addition, the patient may experience glare, especially when going out in bright light; double vision or distorted images, which is commonly called "seeing chickens as hawks". These symptoms progress slowly but will become more severe over time.

The causes are primarily due to natural aging. The appearance of free radicals causes the protein in the lens to denature and coagulate. Most people experience this stage as they age. In addition, there are congenital cataracts, which can be genetic or due to the mother having a viral disease during pregnancy. Next are eye injuries; recurrent uveitis; systemic diseases such as diabetes, gout or the abuse of steroid-containing drugs, especially over-the-counter eye drops. This is a very common cause in young people today.

● What are the consequences of not treating cataracts promptly, doctor?

- The most dangerous thing is blindness. But it does not stop at losing vision, when the lens is severely cloudy, light cannot enter the retina, causing the retinal function to gradually decrease, just like muscles that are not used will atrophy. If left for a long time, even after surgery, vision cannot be fully restored. In addition, patients may experience amblyopia, reducing the ability to work and increasing the risk of falls in the elderly.

● Currently, phaco surgery is considered the most modern technique for treating cataracts. Can you explain more about this technique?

- Phaco uses high-energy ultrasound waves to break up the cloudy lens and suck it out through a very small incision, only a few millimeters. The doctor then places an artificial lens (IOL) into the patient's eye to replace the function of the natural lens. This method has become the standard worldwide thanks to its safety and high efficiency.

The outstanding advantages of phaco are small incisions, no bleeding, no stitches, no anesthesia, only need to numb with eye drops, less pain, short surgery time (from 3-5 minutes); quick recovery, patients can see clearly from the next day. Patients have many choices of artificial lenses, from single focal to multifocal, anti-UV, anti-glare... Along with the development of IOL materials, today patients can even see well at all 3 distances: near, intermediate and far.

Dr. Tran Ngoc Hung recommends that people should have regular eye examinations, especially those over 40 years old or those with underlying diseases such as diabetes. Limit the use of tobacco, alcohol, and beer; limit stress, and work too much with strong light to prevent eye diseases. At the same time, thoroughly treat eye diseases such as uveitis, avoid using steroid eye drops on your own. And finally, choose the right time for surgery to achieve the best results.

Notes before, during, and after surgery

● What should the patient prepare before surgery?

- Patients only need to have regular check-ups so that the doctor can determine the appropriate time for surgery. On the day of surgery, the patient will have tests, eye cleaning, and pupil dilation. The preparation steps only take about 1-2 hours before being taken to the operating room.

● After surgery, what should the patient abstain from, doctor?

- Phaco surgery is very gentle. Patients only need to use eye drops as prescribed by the doctor, keep their eyes clean, avoid dust, avoid strenuous activities for the first few days and return for check-ups on schedule. Usually, after only 24 hours, vision has improved significantly and the patient can go about their normal activities.

● What complications can occur during and after phaco surgery?

- All medical interventions carry risks, but with modern phaco, the complication rate is very low. Complications are mostly mild, for example, conjunctival hemorrhage in patients taking anticoagulants. At Hanoi - Dong Nai Eye Hospital, most surgeries go smoothly and patients recover well. The important thing is to perform surgery at the right time. If the lens is too hard or too opaque, disintegration will be more difficult and the risk of complications will increase.

Nowadays, modern techniques such as multifocal lenses, laser phaco or artificial intelligence (AI) applications in personalized IOL calculations, eye data analysis, etc. have contributed to improving surgical accuracy and improving post-operative vision quality. This is a trend in the global ophthalmology industry and is also a technology that is gradually being applied in Vietnam.

● Thank you very much, doctor!

Hanh Dung (performed)

Source: https://baodongnai.com.vn/xa-hoi/y-te/202512/ky-thuat-cao-dieu-tri-benh-duc-thuy-tinh-the-cee1eb6/