Early Cataract Detection

Cataract is one of the eye diseases with a high risk of blindness if not detected and treated promptly.

1. How to detect cataract?

Cataracts have many causes and can be congenital, systemic diseases (diabetes, high blood pressure …) due to the use of drugs containing corticosteroids, trauma, or the influence of certain conditions outside In the eyes… Among the above causes, age is still the leading and most common cause.

The lens is usually composed mainly of water and protein. Over time, the protein components gradually clumped together, forming opaque areas that obstruct the passage of light.

Cataracts are usually seen in people starting from age 50; at this age, the lens becomes less elastic and less transparent. However, this sign can appear sooner or later, depending on the location of each person.

The folk name cataract or cataract, also known as cataract disease. Cataract cases are often caused by age and are formed gradually, so it is difficult to detect and not notice any vision changes in the early stages.

As cataracts develop, they can cause symptoms such as the following:

• Blurred vision, dark but no pain.
• See colours lighter than before or slightly yellow.
• Sensitivity to light and glare.
• Difficulty seeing at night or when there is not enough light at home.
• See halos around light sources.
• Double vision in one eye.
• The lens must be changed frequently.

If you notice any of the above symptoms, you must see an ophthalmologist for the most accurate diagnosis.

2. Some notes when suffering from cataract

• People with cataracts should protect their eyes from ultraviolet rays by wearing sunglasses that block UV rays. When going out, you should wear a hat because ultraviolet rays are the leading cause of the accelerated aging process of the lens.
• Do not smoke, work and read in a well-lit place.
• Minimize driving at night if your eyes have problems seeing at night.
• Control of systemic diseases (especially diabetes).
• Should change glasses to improve vision.

Surgery should be performed if these frequent changes prevent the eye from improving vision.

3. Advice from ophthalmologists

People under 65 should actively go for an eye exam twice yearly, even if they don’t have any symptoms.

Aged 65 and older should have an eye exam once a year.

Currently, no drug can cure cataracts, so surgery is the only way to cure the disease. The modern surgical method being applied all over the world is Phaco surgery. Phaco surgery has the advantage of no pain or bleeding; small incisions will heal independently, vision recovers quickly, and patients can go home the same day.

If you have any questions about cataracts, please get in touch with Prima Medical Center Saigon for helpful advice.

Our Ophthalmology Care Team:

• Dr THAO Vo, Chief Medical Officer, Prima Medical Center Saigon
• Dr AN Trinh, Head of General Ophthalmology
• Dr QUOC Nguyen, Senior Consultant

If you have any eye problems, please contact Prima Medical Center Saigon:

• Address: 27 Ky Dong St, Ward 9, District 3, Ho Chi Minh City
• Website: https://primahealth.vn/en/   
• Business Hours: 07:30 – 17:00 from Monday – Saturday
• HOTLINE: 0919-209-039 or 1900 – 9115