Fixed as H26.2 in the ICD, complicated cataract is a pathological condition of the human ophthalmic system. In this case, the lens becomes cloudy, secondary problems in the functioning of the visual system are observed. These can affect the course of the underlying disease, and in some cases are the root cause of cataracts.
Causes and consequences
Complicated cataract (ICD code H26.2) occurs with a wide range of primary diseases. In some cases, the primary source of problems will be an inflammatory focus. This is possible if a person is sick with uveitis. There is a likelihood of deterioration of the visual system due to syphilis, tuberculosis and a number of other systemic diseases.
With pathology, poisonous compounds are generated in the body, under the influence of which the lens becomes cloudy. This leads to complicated cataracts of the eye. Typically, the generation of toxic compounds is explained by a long-functioning inflammatory focus. A distinctive feature of the complicated process is clouding of the posterior capsule of the eye. At the same time, the periphery of the cortex posterior to the lens suffers. The primary focus of clouding is localized at the back of the pole. It is small at first, increasing over time. Such degenerative processes occur until the back capsule is completely closed. In this case, the cup-shaped type of the disease is diagnosed. At the same time, the surface of the lens and its core retain transparency. Patients with this form of cataract are characterized by low quality of vision.
Case Nuances
It is known that the initial complicated cataract with a high degree of probability occurs if a person has undergone surgery of the eye, during which the lens was changed, and myopia became the reason for this. Perhaps a pathological condition caused by a violation of the integrity of the tissues. The period of operation may be accompanied by a malfunction of blood flow, which also provokes cataracts.
On average, among the patients' clinics, there are more women with the described diagnosis than men. For the female, a severe course of the disease is characteristic.
Types of Complications
Cataracts complicated by glaucoma and other pathological conditions develop in stages. Doctors talk about the four stages of progress of a pathological condition. For each stage, peculiar signs are characteristic. At first, the eye becomes an area of accumulation of infiltrate. The progress of the disease is not accompanied by a deterioration in the quality of vision, the exception is a slight fogging, occasionally noted by a person. A diagnosis at this stage is possible if you come to the doctor for a routine examination.
Doctors recommend regular visits to the ophthalmologist’s office to diabetics and people with a tendency to such a disease, as well as those who have suffered eye injury in the recent past. These people are characterized by increased risks of the disease in question, therefore it is recommended to regularly check the health of the tissues forming the eye.
Status Progress
At the second stage, an immature, incomplete complicated cataract develops. The lens grows cloudy enough, vision weakens. Gradually, this form transforms into a mature one. It is known from medical statistics that it is at the third stage that patients most often turn to doctors, as the symptoms become especially vivid. Infiltrate is layered, it can be seen even without the use of special tools. Cataract visually resembles a white spot, does not apply to the iris. Eye shade closer to the color of milk.
The most difficult treatment for complicated cataracts in the fourth step. Such a disease is called overripe. The patient completely loses the ability to see with the eye in which the degenerative focus is localized. There is a possibility of a posterior capsular form, the disease can develop according to a swelling scenario. The doctor will determine the specific variety during the diagnosis of the condition. To do this, you need to explore how the infiltrate is localized.
Types and Forms
More often complicated cataract develops according to the posterior capsular scenario. The degenerative focus in this case is localized on the crystalline lens behind, on the organ wall.
With a swelling type of disease, the lens gradually becomes larger in size, the front capsule is smaller. This form is observed quite rarely.
How to notice?
To suggest that you need to visit a doctor, you can if the visible objects double when you try to examine them, your eyes are foggy. White pupils may indicate complicated cataracts. There is a decrease in visual acuity. The ability to distinguish between objects in the dark is deteriorating.
Incomplete complicated form
This variant of the disease threatens people of all age groups. The rate of development of pathology, as shown by observations, correlates with the age of the patient. In a predominant percentage of cases, a unilateral pathological process is diagnosed, that is, the eye is affected only on one side. In rare cases, an incomplete complicated form spreads to both eyes, and there will be no symmetry of the process.
As the complicated cataract develops, the trophic lens is disturbed. It is possible to generate toxic compounds that inhibit the viability of organic tissues of the visual system. At the same time, the ability of the eye to see is lost, since the lens becomes cloudy. Such a disease substantially corrects the rhythm and lifestyle of a person. Even a slight visual impairment is already a limitation on daily activities. Most cataract sufferers experience increased stress. Among patients in ophthalmologic clinics, there are many people with depressive disorders amid loss of vision.
Treatment and Dangers
If complicated cataract becomes the cause of mental disorders, this greatly complicates the fight against the disease. Patients need a comprehensive therapeutic approach, observation by both an ophthalmologist and a psychotherapist. In most cases, cataract is treated, it is possible to avoid complete blindness. To alleviate the condition and regain the quality of life, surgery is needed. As a rule, after a certain period of rehabilitation, the ability to see returns almost completely. Several methods and methods of operating are available to modern people. You can choose a specific one based on your capabilities, financial well-being, the nuances of the diagnosis.
Where did the trouble come from?
If the doctor made the final diagnosis, it is often interesting for the patient to find out what features of his life caused the need for surgery. Complicated cataracts, as you know, are often formed if the retina has exfoliated for a long time, and the person has not received appropriate treatment. Chronic iridocyclitis, a neoplasm in the eye, and ultraviolet radiation can become a cause of pathology. Cases of cataract development against the background of the focus of inflammation in the choroid are known. Certain risks are associated with the drug program. Especially dangerous are eye drops, which include adrenaline, pilocarpine.
The risk of developing cataracts is higher if heredity has the potential for this, the person has diabetes or lacks iodine in the body. The likelihood of cataracts is more significant against the background of general exhaustion, eye injury.
How to clarify?
Before the patient is prescribed removal of complicated cataracts, it is necessary to accurately diagnose. For this, the condition of the patient is evaluated by qualified ophthalmologists with access to modern equipment. If the doctor reveals signs of detachment of the eye retina, if an assessment of the lens indicates a violation of its transparency, it is necessary to examine the patient’s visual system using a slit lamp. The use of the device helps optimally visualize the focus of degenerative changes.
The easiest way to notice a mature form of pathology. At the first stage, the diagnosis is difficult, but possible.
What to do?
Before prescribing the removal of complicated cataracts, the doctor may first recommend milder methods for correcting the condition. Prescribe glasses or choose lenses in such a way as to provide an opportunity to see well. The doctor will tell you how often you need to come for repeated examinations - this will depend on the stage of the disease and the degree and speed of its progress. If vision deteriorates sharply and severely, eye surgery is indicated. The specific type of intervention is determined by evaluating the characteristics of the case. Some patients are shown surgery that affects only the lens and cornea, sometimes larger-scale interventions are needed. If the root cause of the pathological condition is not eliminated, the ability to see will not be fully restored.
Many patients have a lens removal operation. Instead, they put a lens made of artificial material. After the intervention, a recovery period is required. Rehabilitation requires you to carefully comply with medical prescriptions. If the patient neglects these tips, the likelihood of developing complications and the failure of the entire treatment as a whole is high.
Additional nuances
Quite often, cataracts are complicated by diabetes. An operation-oriented patient must first stabilize glucose in the circulatory system. Only after normalization of the general condition of the body is it possible to operate the eye.
If cataract is accompanied by a focus of inflammation, it is first necessary to exclude all damage, remove inflammatory processes. If the patient has a chronic illness, it is necessary to wait for the transition of the form to remission. Only after this is it allowed to operate on the patient.
If surgery is enough to exclude not only cataract, but also its root cause, it is allowed to conduct a combined intervention, if possible in a particular case. To ensure the best prognoses, the patient must responsibly choose a good clinic with highly qualified staff.
Cataract: types and features
The complicated form of the disease has a number of distinctive nuances that distinguish it against the background of nuclear age-related pathologies and the cortical type of development of the disease. Turbidity localized in the posterior lens area is almost always due to trophic disturbance, deterioration in tissue nutrition, and metabolic failure. Undesirable processes often indicate serious illnesses that affect the visual system and are prone to relapse. Often a complicated form accompanies Fuchs disease. This type of cataract threatens people with glaucoma if the pathology has progressed to a developed, terminal stage. There is a probability of deterioration of trophic processes against the background of pigmented degenerative processes localized in the retina.
In some patients, cachectic cataract is diagnosed. Such a diagnosis is made if the body is generally severely depleted. This can cause hunger or a long-term severe infectious disease. There are many cases of cataracts against the background of smallpox and typhoid. Anemia can cause degenerative changes. There are known cases of a combination of eye disease and endocrine disruption. Among the patients of ophthalmologists there are many people who have revealed dystrophies of various types, tetany. There is a possibility of visual impairment on the background of Down syndrome, eczema and neurodermatitis. Higher dangers and risks for people suffering from atrophic type of poikiloderma, scleroderma.
Frequency and Cases
As can be concluded from official medical statistics, most often ophthalmologists encounter complicated cataracts in diabetics. It can form at any age, more often observed if the disease is severe. With diabetes, more often than in all other cases, the disease develops simultaneously in both eyes. Atypical initial symptoms may be inherent in such a course. In the rear, front sections under the capsules appear small areas of turbidity, visually resembling flakes. Such sites are evenly distributed, between them you can see vacuoles, clicks.
The initial diabetic cataract differs from other forms of complicated type not only by the peculiarities of the location of the clouded areas, but also by the course of the process. If you assign a suitable course for the correction of diabetes, there is a likelihood of a reverse change in the eye condition to normal without additional measures. At an advanced age, the diabetic form can be combined with a nuclear age. This is possible if strong sclerotic processes have begun in the lens nucleus.