Smokers, alcoholics prone to cataract blindness

Vijayawada: More than five crore people all over world are suffering from cataract blindness with more than half of them above 60-year-old, said noted ophthalmologist Dr Yanamadala Sujatha Savitri Rao while addressing the health education programme at Vasavya Nursing Home here on Saturday with Dr G Samaram in the chair.

In India, 1.30 crore people are suffering from cataract, which generally occurs among the aged. In some cases, cataract is a congenital problem for children. Cataract also occurs to diabetics and in case of injuries to eye also cataract forms, she said.

The ophthalmologist said that cataract forms fast in case of smokers, alcoholics and people who work in broad daylight. So far, only 25 lakh operations are being conducted every year to remove cataract and more should be done, she said.

People who suffer from cataract would have poor eyesight and they find it difficult to drive during night time, she said and added the incidence of cataract was less in people who consume vitamin C, E, and A regularly. Operation was the only solution for cataract and medicines won't help, she pointed out.

She said that there has been tremendous advancement in treatment of cataract like no-stitch technique and phacoemulsification which are giving good results and the patients would recover in a short span of time.

Lens would be implanted during the cataract surgery, she said and added everyone after 50 years of age should consult ophthalmologist regularly. Dr Mar proposed a vote of thanks.