home *** CD-ROM | disk | FTP | other *** search
- $Unique_ID{BRK00729}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{Does a Cataract Mean a Tumor?}
- $Subject{eyes cataract special procedure procedures Sense senses eye cloudy
- vision sight fogging over surgery surgeries operation operations artificial
- intraocular lens IOL surgical cataracts}
- $Volume{F-21,P-21}
- $Log{
- Cataracts*0003100.tid
- Normal vs. Cataracted Eyes*0003101.scf
- Blurred Retinal Image*0003102.scf
- Clear vs. Cloudy Vision*0003103.scf}
-
- Copyright (c) 1991-92,1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
-
-
- Does a Cataract Mean a Tumor?
-
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- QUESTION: When a person develops a cataract in their eye, does this mean that
- they have grown a tumor that is blocking their vision? How does this tumor
- spread to the other eye? I suppose that these conditions can easily be
- destroyed using the new laser guns, but I can't find a doctor to do it for me.
- Can you help?
-
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
-
- ANSWER: I suppose the best way I can help you is to explain the nature of a
- cataract and the operation that removes it, for you have a great many
- misconceptions about the condition. However, your ideas are expressed in many
- other letters, so you are not alone in your ideas. A cataract is not a tumor,
- in fact not a growth of any kind. The lens of the eye, normally as
- transparent as clear glass, begins to grow cloudy, fogging over and preventing
- the light from the images in our world, to pass through the lens and strike
- the back of the eye (retina) where the light can be transformed into
- electrical impulses that pass on to the brain. And cataracts do not spread
- from one eye to the next, since they do not result from a process of infection
- either. Rather both eyes may develop the same condition at about the same
- time, usually gradually over a long period of time. When too much of the lens
- becomes affected and vision is diminished partially or completely, the opaque
- lens may be removed, but lasers are not used in this type of surgery. Once
- the cloudy lens is removed sight is restored, and the use of special glasses
- can bring vision back to near normal. Contact lenses may sometimes be used as
- well. In some cases the surgeon will position a new, artificial lens
- (intraocular lens or IOL) to replace the damaged one that was removed. Your
- eye doctor can help you chose the right combination of surgical procedure and
- corrective lenses to suit your personal style of living, and restore to you
- the precious gift of sight. Over 90% of people who go through these
- procedures regain useful vision.
-
- ----------------
-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
-
-