Keep Your Eyes Safe: Understanding Traumatic Cataracts

Approximately 2.5 million eye injuries occur in America annually. One of the most common complications of eye injury is traumatic cataract development. Its incidence remains high up to this day. In fact, trauma is the leading cause of blindness in people younger than 45.

Traumatic cataracts may develop immediately or gradually over months after injury. This can challenge cataract detection and provision of prompt intervention to prevent blindness. Cataract treatment in Phoenix provides top of the scale eye care to individuals in Glendale, Scottsdale, and nearby areas who are at risk of developing traumatic cataracts.

What are Traumatic Cataracts?

While most cataracts develop as a result of aging, cataracts can also develop from both blunt and penetrating eye traumas. Our cataract surgeons in Scottsdale are expertly shaped by years of experience in providing patients the best traumatic cataract treatment.

The types of opacities of the cataracts formed from each type of trauma differ. Blunt traumas are a combination of coup (direct) and contrecoup (distant) impacts. Also, a rapid shortening of the eye happens when the anterior surface is bluntly struck. This shortened diameter can disrupt the lens capsule, zonules, or both. This combination is responsible for traumatic cataracts following blunt eye traumas.

On the other hand, individuals who suffered penetrating traumas can develop lens disruption which can lead to opacification at the site of injury. If it is large enough, the entire lens rapidly develops cataracts. Otherwise, it can seal itself off. Nevertheless, the aim of traumatic cataract treatment in Phoenix is preventing blindness through the best cataract surgeons in the area with the most advanced laser cataract surgery in Glendale and Scottsdale.

Other causes of traumatic cataracts include infrared energy, electric shock, and ionizing radiation.

Laser Cataract Treatment

Eye physicians and cataract surgeons of Glendale, Phoenix, and Scottsdale, Arizona are pleased to offer a bladeless, computer-controlled laser technology called Alcon’s LenSx laser which makes individualized treatment plans possible.

The LenSx® laser makes cataract removal easier by softening the cataract. An intraocular lens (IOLs) is then placed after removal of clouded lens. It determines the focusing ability of the eye. A variety of IOLs are available to accommodate unique individual needs.

The advantages of laser cataract surgery in Glendale, Scottsdale, and Phoenix include:

• the chance to correct pre-existing refractive errors such as astigmatism at the same time,
• less energy use in cataract removal,
• provision of effective and safe treatment for hard or mature cataracts,
• and facilitating consistent and precise implant placement.

Protect Your Vision

Your vision is priceless. Accidents happen, but it it is important that we take all measures possible to protect our eyes from injury. Wearing the proper safety glasses when doing high-risk activities such as using a power-saw, playing sports or even riding a motorcycle can prevent eye injury. Actively protecting your vision is the best way to prevent traumatic injury and cataracts! Call Arizona Eye today if you have had a traumatic eye injury, or if you suspect your are developing cataracts.