Question
Thanks for the D2D. Indeed, there are many different types of cataracts. Some cataracts are related to genetics (congenital cataracts) while some are brought about by trauma and injury.
Other cataracts may be associated with the use of medication such as steroids. However, the most common cataracts that we see are related to degeneration from aging.
Think of the eye as a camera, the central part of the eye. The lens is usually clear and over time, with age or trauma, the lens gets opacified, so there is opacity in the lens. We call that the cataract.
The types can be divided into the anatomical layout of the opacity.
We call the front the anterior cataract, we call the back the posterior cataract, we call the middle the nuclear cataract. It is quite position based, yes.
We can divide it based on the severity, so we grade it from less severe to more severe cases.
First and foremost, permit me to put your mind at ease. Not wearing glasses in an adult does not have direct bearing on the stability of your refractive error. Any residual refractive error following LASIK or any other forms of laser refractive surgery (ReLEx SMILE or TransPRK) does not increase merely because the patient fails to wears spectacles. ICL is a potential consideration for patients whose corneas may be too thin or refractive errors too high for LASIK or any other forms of laser refractive surgery. ICL has been in use for over a decade now.
Cataract surgery is not always an elective procedure. Occasionally, a cataract may progress very rapidly to cause severe visual impairment, as well as acute glaucoma. In these situations, the cataract needs to be removed urgently. In most other cases, cataract surgery is elective because cataract progression is usually very gradual. You should choose to have your cataracts removed when your vision deteriorates to a stage that it affects your quality of life. This is very dependent on each individual, your occupation and activities you like to do.
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