Phaco Cataract Surgery - Saving the Eyes of an 80-Year-Old Diabetic Patient

(Dan Tri) - Diabetes is one of the common causes of cataracts. At TCI, many patients after examination are diagnosed with cataracts not excluding complications of diabetes. Mrs. PTT (75 years old) is a typical example.

Patient U80 with cataracts in both eyes and underlying disease - diabetes

Coming to Thu Cuc TCI International General Hospital for examination in a state of blurred vision, eye pain, sensitivity to light..., Ms. PTT was diagnosed with cataracts in both eyes. Notably, Ms. T. also had diabetes.

According to Dr. Nguyen Thi Xuan Loan - Deputy Head of Examination Department in charge of Ophthalmology, Thu Cuc TCI International General Hospital, cataracts are often caused by aging, but in Ms. T's case, diabetes cannot be ruled out as the cause of cataracts.

Cataracts are often caused by aging (Photo: TCI).

In relation to diabetes, the mechanisms of cataract formation include: the polyol pathway, oxidative stress, and non-enzymatic glycation of lens proteins.

The polyol pathway is a condition in which part of glucose is converted into sorbitol when blood glucose levels are high. This sorbitol accumulates in the cells of the lens, drawing water into the cells, changing the structure and damaging the protein fibers in the lens.

Oxidative stress is a condition in which high levels of glucose in the blood promote the formation of free radicals - unstable molecules that damage protein fibers in the lens.

Non-enzymatic glycation is a process in which glucose binds to proteins in the lens without the involvement of enzymes. This process increases the appearance of advanced glycation end products and free radicals such as nitric oxide. These factors contribute to the formation of protein plaques in the lens.

According to Dr. Xuan Loan, normally, cataracts can be easily improved by Phaco surgery. This is a cataract surgery method that has many outstanding advantages, such as short surgery time; no anesthesia, no anesthesia injection; no bleeding, no pain; limited post-operative complications; small incision (2-2.2mm), no need for stitches, reduced damage to the eyeball; patients are discharged the same day; patients' vision is restored almost immediately...

Phaco cataract surgery has many outstanding advantages (Photo: TCI).

However, Phaco is still not an appropriate method to apply immediately when the patient is diagnosed with cataract in some cases such as:

The patient is showing symptoms of infection.

Patients with associated diseases such as myocardial infarction, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), diabetes, high blood pressure... that are not well controlled.

Patients with other ophthalmological diseases

Phaco Surgery: Regain 9/10 Vision in Nearly Half an Hour

After carefully evaluating Ms. PTT's case, seeing that the patient's diabetes was well controlled and the results of the paraclinical examination were satisfactory, Dr. Loan ordered Ms. T. to undergo cataract surgery using the Phaco method.

Using Phaco tip - an ultrasonic probe to break and suck out the cloudy lens, after only 20 minutes, the Ophthalmologist at Thu Cuc TCI International General Hospital successfully replaced the cloudy lens with an intraocular lens for Ms. T.

Ms. T. was able to go home after 4 hours of monitoring at the hospital. A follow-up examination 1 day after surgery showed that her vision in both eyes had reached 9/10; her eye pain and sensitivity to light had significantly improved.

TCI has successfully restored vision to many cataract patients (Photo: TCI).

Through the case of Ms. T., Dr. Xuan Loan advised that diabetes is one of the common causes of cataracts. To protect eye health, diabetics should have regular check-ups with an ophthalmologist. In addition, patients also need to control this disease well to ensure that they are eligible for surgery as soon as they are diagnosed with cataracts.

Cataracts are the leading cause of blindness in the world and in Vietnam. If you see unusual signs such as blurred vision, eye pain, sensitivity to light, etc., diabetics in particular and patients in general should immediately see an ophthalmologist for diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

This month, Thu Cuc TCI International General Hospital reduces 25% of Phaco surgery costs and 20% of paraclinical service costs, helping cataract patients regain their vision soon. Contact 1900 558 892 for advice or see more information on the hospital's website.

Source: https://dantri.com.vn/suc-khoe/mo-duc-thuy-tinh-the-bang-phaco-cuu-doi-mat-nguoi-benh-tieu-duong-u80-20250719230021066.htm