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Everyone knows it: the view goes down as you get older. What is less well known is that there is nothing irremediable about it. Guest of the show Sans Rendez-Vous on Europe 1, Professor Dominique Monnet, ophthalmologist surgeon and head of department at the OphtalmoPôle at the Cochin hospital in Paris, gave an update on the risk factors, but also on the treatments that exist to cure a cataract.
What is cataract?
Cataract corresponds to a "opacification of the crystalline lens, located just behind the iris", recalls Professor Dominique Monnet. "The lens is used to focus, focus, usually up to 45 years." It is at this age that come the first signs of fatigue of the lens: it does not accommodate anymore, it becomes more difficult to read closely. "The next sign is crystalline opacities, what we call" cataract. "It's a blurry, hazy vision that will generally manifest itself around age 70."
The symptoms are those of a decrease of visual acuity, but can also result in "dazzling, a decrease of the vision of the contrasts, difficulties to drive the night", indicates the specialist. Contrary to popular belief, cataracts can not be seen with the naked eye unless they are at a very advanced stage.
Is it common?
"At the age of 70, 40% of the population" has cataracts, says Professor Dominique Monnet. Between 75 and 85 years, more than 93% of people have crystalline opacities. "So it's almost everyone," says the specialist, although everyone does not need an intervention. "One can have crystalline opacities and be uncomfortable."
What are the triggers?
Age is obviously the first factor, but there are others: tobacco, strong myopia and some drugs, such as corticosteroids. Diabetes can also promote cataracts. "There are congenital cataracts, but this remains a minority," said Professor Dominique Monnet. "The hereditary side plays especially on the age of the cataract." In other words, if in your family there are cataracts that trigger early, it is likely that this is also your case.
How to treat a cataract?
The good news is that a cataract is never an emergency, there are some exceptions but most of the time there is time to intervene, says the ophthalmologist. "What we recommend is to have an eye track every two or three years" from 50 years.
The other good news is that there is an intervention that works very well. "We remove the lens and replace it with an implant," explains Professor Dominique Monnet. "Since the retina works well behind, we go from a light perception to 10 / 10th." Sometimes, some patients even see better than they have ever seen after the operation. "We will be able to correct the disorders of the vision of the patient" with the implant.
This operation, reimbursed 100% by social security, costs around 1,000 euros. It is the most practiced in France: 800,000 procedures per year, with a mean age of 73 years old patient.