Skip to content
LWL | History of Treatment, Prevention, and formation of Cataract

LWL | History of Treatment, Prevention, and formation of Cataract

By Monishwar Varadharaj
Cataract affects millions of people worldwide, according to a survey of 30% of  Americans who do not cataract. This research devotes to examine the approach to cataract  prevention and treatment, exploring the causes for Cataract and investigate to the history to find  the various ways humans have treated Cataract, and identifies the Significant contributors that  inflate the probability for cataract. Cataract is a very common disease affecting the older  population. Cataract is identified when a patient finds themselves having trouble seeing because  of a white or cloudy patch developed in the lens of the eye. The cloudiness occurs due to the  collecting of proteins in the lens, which starts to break down and clump together. Many ways of  treating and preventing this disease have become popular in recent times. Previous treatment  given by Jacque Daviel, credited to the father of modern cataract extraction surgery, is to remove  the cataract by using a corneal incision with a corneal knife. Then use a blunted needle to  puncture the lens capsule. Before this method, in 600 BC, Indian surgeon Sushruta punctured the  eye through the aqueous humor until reaching the capsule of the lens material, effectively  restoring the patient's vision.

 

Abstract 

This paper explores the historical methods of treatment related to eye disease and  includes the analysis of the causes of preventive measures for cataracts, which is the leading  cause of vision impairment and blindness worldwide, particularly in aging populations.  Furthermore, this paper explains the formation of cataracts, incorporating insights from previous  research and novel technological solutions for their removal. It addresses the causes of eye related diseases and their relationship to cataracts, emphasizing the preventative methods. Finally, highlights the areas needing further research to treat these conditions by comparing data  on eye health from previous research. 

 

How Cataract Form 

Eye Injuries 

According to the researchers, up to 65% of eye traumas lead to cataract formation, resulting in  short and klong term Vision loss. Causes related Eye treatment and injuries increase the chances  of cataract. Incidents leading to discomfort and pain, reddish eye, Anterior chamber cell reaction, cereal infection, an blurry vision which is Known as the traumatic cataract. The four known traumatic Cataracts are Blunt trauma, penetrating trauma, chemical trauma, and radiation trauma. According to research conducted by Godwin S. Okay and Bharat Gurbani , the disruption of the  lens fiber by either penetration or blunt trauma, occurs when there is disrupter or disoriented of  the capsule or coup. This happens due to the equatorial expansion by the various forces  transferring to the eye. Dentition and coagulation of the lens proteins can lead to cataract formation through loss of transparency due to degeneration process. Furthermore, Chemical Trauma refers to the penetration of chemical substance that enters the eye, resulting in a change in the overall composition of the lens fiber. Lastly the radiation trauma, common among children can damage and rupture the lens and eye vision by ionizing radiation like the sun causing  cataract. 

 

Medication Leading to Cataract 

Furthermore, research lead by National Library of Medicine shows certain medication increases  the chances of cataract. According to the research, Statins, which is used for bad LDL  Cholesterol, increase the risk of Cataract. Research reported by the American Journal of  Ophthalmology found that taking statins to lower their cholesterol are more often that other  bothered by dry eye decease and problems reported by the Tenafly Eye. According to the  analysis. Accordingly dry eyes are a contributor to cataract. It is explained that the Dry eyes  disease affects 7% to 33% of general population. This process of taking medication to lower  cholesterol, intern, could lead to Cataract disease.  

 

Sunlight Effects 

Cataract is cause for exposure to electromagnetic radiation. According to the research by the Oxford Eye Hospital, the damaging effects on the lens are caused by ionizing, microwave, and  infrared radiation from the sun. Accordingly, most of the radiation is filtered by the cornea (transparent front part of the eye that covers the iris, pupil, and interior chamber) and only  wavelength of 295nm or greater passes through. In context the sun rays are at 500nm, and the  absorption of 295nm to 400nm of the Lense, causes high probability of Cataract. According to Eye Hospital of Oxford, some epidemiological data already support this hypothesis of ultraviolent radiation from the sun. The research shows, the increased yellowing of the lens nucleus with the aging and the exposure to ultraviolet radiation, forming chromophores from  proteins containing tryptophan, increasing the potential of the nucleus to absorb more radiation. 

 

Smoking Causes Eye Disease 

Other causes related to smoking also induce the risk of Eye disease related to Cataract.  According to the Dr. Basu Eye Care Centre, claims that smoking is known to damage parts of the  eye to maintain clear eyesight. Stated by the FDA (Federal DRUG Administration) smoking  causes Cataract and disease known as AMD which is the destruction of the eye’s macula and  Glaucoma, which damages the eyes optic nerves. 

Lastly, the Genetics are common reason for Cataract according to previous examinations.  Accordingly, Genetic Mutation, Hereditary Cataract, and Congenital cataract are main genetic  Causes. Firstly, according to the research done by the NHS, cataract present from birth  (congenital Cataracts) are sometimes caused by faulty genes passed to children. This occurs  because of the gene not developed properly. Accordingly, it is claimed that around 1 in every 5  cases of the condition. Second, Heredity Cataract 

 

History of Treatment, Prevention, and formation of Cataract 

According to the historical reference there has not been any conclusive method to prevent  Cataract, but society during the 5th century BC, known as couching, where sharp needle is used  to pierce the eye near the limbus, until Cataract can be manually dislodged. According to Brian  Lett, Ayurvedic medicine in ancient India prescribed herbal medicine such as Tripala, to address  cataract. Furthermore, countries such as Ancient China and Greek used herbal treatment. They  utilized Saffron and honey as eye drops to mitigate Cataract symptoms. Romans utilized plant based remedies like Euphrasia plant juice that was also used to mitigate cataract. 

 

Modern Cataract Surgery 

One type of Surgery is Basic Cataract surgery, after diagnostics, using ultrasonic probe to  break up the lens for removal called phacoemulsification. The surgeon makes incision in front of  the eye called the cornea. Then a needle thin probe is then inserted into the lens where the  cataract is formed. The surgeon then uses the probe to transmit ultrasound waves to break the  cataract and suction the fragments and debris. Another method known as the extracapsular cataract extraction, which is used less frequently. It requires larger incision and uses a tool to  remove the front capsule of the lens and cloudy lens. Later, the very back capsule of the lens is  left and serves as a place for the artificial lens.  

Similarly, Laser Cataract removal works with the use of camera/ultrasound devices to  capture the information from the eye surface. A device sends information to computer program to instruct the laser, to make a corneal incision to open the capsule. Using the ultrasound to break  the pieces and suction them out. 

These processes are similar, but Laser Eye Cataract is better because the process is  quicker and accurate, and it also is great option for patients with astigmatism. Furthermore, traditional methods might require stiches. In conclusion, laser and traditional Cataract surgery have similar recovery, laser treatment is quicker and less intense due to its precision and its low  margin of error. 

 

Counter Claim

Although many claims of preventative methods for cataract do not exist or the methods are not proven. However, according to research and experience of people who took preventative method shows that certain preventions and medication. 

 

Preventative Methods

According to main causes to cataract, preventative methods such  as avoiding smoking, and avoiding certain medication can prevent Cataract according to  previous research; however, taking regular eye exams, wearing sunglasses, and managing health  problems could prevent Cataract. Furthermore, according to research done by the ____ increased exposure of the lens to oxygen is a major cause of aga-related nuclear Cataract. Specifically, loss of the gel state of the vitreous gel (a jelly like substance that fills the back of the eye) protects the  lens from oxygen and from nuclear cataract. Loss of the gel state of the vitreous is likely to  expose the Lense to oxygen, increasing the risk of cataract. This occurs due to oxidation stress on  delicate parts of the tissue, leading to eye disease. People can avoid this by regular eye exams,  sunglasses and adjust screen brightness to reduce the deuteriation of Vitreous gel.

Study lead by American Journal of Ophthalmology, known as blue mountains, eye study, explores the relationship in vitamin supplements to show positive results in cataract. The use of  multivitamin supplements was associated with reducing the nuclear cataract, “odds ratio 0.6”. In  addition, thiamin supplements were associated with reduced spread “in nuclear (odds ratio 0.6,  confidence interval 0.4 to 1.0, P = .03, dose trend P = .03) and cortical cataract (odds ratio 0.7,  confidence interval 0.5 to 0.9, P = .01, dose trend P = .02).” Their research further shows  “ Vitamin A supplements were protective against nuclear cataract (odds ratio 0.4, confidence  interval 0.2 to 0.8, P = .01, dose trend P = .01)”, and “vitamin B12 supplements (odds ratio 0.7,  confidence interval 0.5 to 1.0, P = .03, dose trend P = .02) were strongly protective against  cortical cataract.”. According to the blue mountains eye study, long-term consumption multivitamin could prevent the nuclear and cortical cataract. 

 

Conclusion

According to this research people can understand the concept of Cataract and  understand the ways to prevent cataract and improve the understanding the preventions and causes of cataract. Also Going over the history and current treatment clarifies the ways doctors improved their technique.

 

References 

Secondary Source Balintfy, J. (n.d.). Nei charts a clearer future for Cataract Prevention and Treatment. National Eye Institute. https://www.nei.nih.gov/about/news-and events/news/nei-charts-clearer-future-cataract-prevention-and-treatment 

Hejtmancik, J. F. (2019, July 10). J. Fielding Hejtmancik, M.D., Ph.D.: National Eye  Institute. National Eye Institute. https://www.nei.nih.gov/research/research-labs-and branches/we-are-nei-intramural/j-hejtmancik 

Byrd Eye Clinic. (n.d.). Can sunlight cause cataracts? Byrd Eye  

Clinic. https://www.byrdeyeclinic.com/eye-care-resources/can-sunlight-cause-cataracts 

Sunlight causing Cataract Cheng, H. (1989). Causes of cataract. BMJ: British Medical  Journal, 298(6686), 1470. 

Medication Causing Cataract Mackay, D. F., Dickson, S. E., Strachan, M. W. J., & Pell, J. P.  (2023). Associations between thyroid cancer and exposure to ionizing radiation: A systematic  review and meta-analysis. Journal of Environmental and Public  

Health. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17197382 

Associates, T. E. (2021, August 18). Dry eyes from cholesterol medications. Tenafly Eye  Associates, PA. https://tenaflyeye.com/dry-eyes-from-cholesterol-medications/

Thomas Byrd, MD. (2023, March 9). Can eye trauma cause cataracts? https://www.byrdeyeclinic.com/eye-care-resources/cataracts-after-eye-trauma 

Okoye, G. S., & Gurnani, B. (2023b, August 27). Traumatic cataract. StatPearls - NCBI  Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK594251/ 

Traumatic cataract: symptoms, causes, types & advanced treatment. (2024, April 3). Dr  Agarwal’s Eye Hospital. https://www.dragarwal.com/diseases-conditions/cataract/traumatic cataract/ 

Cataract surgery - Mayo Clinic. (n.d.). https://www.mayoclinic.org/tests-procedures/cataract surgery/about/pac-20384765 

Traditional Cataract Surgery vs. Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery. (2021, April 19). American  Academy of Ophthalmology. https://www.aao.org/eye-health/tips-prevention/traditional-vs-laser assisted-cataract-surgery

Prokofyeva, E., Wegener, A., & Zrenner, E. (2013). Cataract prevalence and prevention in  Europe: A literature review. Acta Ophthalmologica, 91(5), 395-405. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1755-3768.2012.02444.x 

Kuzniarz, M., Mitchell, P., Cumming, R. G., & Flood, V. M. (2001). Use of vitamin supplements  and cataract: The blue mountains eye study. American Journal of Ophthalmology, 132(1), 19-26.  https://doi.org/10.1016/S0002-9394(01)00922-9
Cart 0

Your cart is currently empty.

Start Shopping