A 40-year-old office worker, Ms. Xu, suffered an eye injury during an accident but did not experience immediate discomfort and did not seek medical attention. However, over the following three months, her vision rapidly deteriorated. One day while working, she suddenly could not see objects in front of her with her right eye, making paperwork extremely difficult. She sought treatment at the Ophthalmology Clinic of Ren’ai Chang Gung Cooperative Hospital (Dali Ren’ai Hospital).
Examinations revealed that Ms. Xu’s right-eye vision had dropped below 0.1, and she could not even see a hand moving in front of her. She was diagnosed with traumatic cataract. After undergoing femtosecond laser-assisted cataract surgery, her vision improved to nearly 0.9 within a month, allowing her to return to normal work and daily life.
Dr. He Ming-Zhi, an ophthalmologist at Ren’ai Chang Gung Cooperative Hospital, explained that cataracts occur when the eye’s lens becomes cloudy. Early symptoms may include blurred vision, glare around light sources, or light sensitivity. Cataracts are most commonly caused by aging, with lens hardening and clouding typically beginning in the 40s and 50s. Other contributing factors include excessive UV exposure, physical trauma, high myopia, diabetes, long-term steroid use, or certain medications.
Traditionally, cataract surgery involves phacoemulsification, where the cloudy lens is removed from the lens capsule and replaced with an artificial lens. Currently, the hospital offers advanced femtosecond laser-assisted surgery, which replaces part of the manual procedure with precise laser cuts. This method allows for highly accurate corneal and lens incisions, resulting in better wound alignment, shorter recovery, and improved surgical safety and visual outcomes.
Professor Sun Qi-Qin, Deputy Director of Keelung Chang Gung Hospital and Ophthalmology Head at Ren’ai Chang Gung Cooperative Hospital, noted that femtosecond laser-assisted surgery produces smoother, more precise incisions, reducing the risk of artificial lens tilt or displacement. It also minimizes the ultrasonic energy used in traditional phacoemulsification, lowering the risk of corneal endothelial damage and post-operative corneal swelling, while enhancing the proper placement of the artificial lens to achieve the desired vision improvement.
Dr. Sun and Dr. He advise the public to take preventive measures against cataracts: minimize UV exposure by wearing sunglasses and hats in strong sunlight, consume antioxidant-rich foods such as fruits, vegetables, and nuts, and maintain a healthy lifestyle while avoiding excessive eye strain. People over 50 should undergo regular eye examinations, and any abnormalities should be addressed promptly to ensure early detection and treatment, preserving healthy vision and quality of life.
