The time period which symptoms have been affecting the patient should be obtained as experiencing symptoms for a period longer than 5 days may result in further issues such as glaucomatous disc damage or poorer prognosis. Additionally, previous cataract or trauma surgery which have been conducted must be accounted for so that an accurate diagnosis of current symptoms which could be caused because of these previous experiences.An ophthalmologic examination is another procedure which must be conducted to effectively diagnose phacolytic glaucoma. This test will indicate high levels of inflammation due to high intraocular pressures within the eyes. Additionally, the presence of calcium oxalate and cholesterol crystals from the degenerating cataract lens is an indication of phacolytic glaucoma but can only be identified by puncturing the cataract. This is specifically used to differentiate between uveitic glaucoma where keratic precipitates are present rather than calcium oxalate. Target Population
Phacolysis is evident, more commonly, within elderly people as a result of cataracts that have developed over time. There are other factors which contribute to the development of phacolysis in seniors. This is clearly indicated through the increase of intraocular pressure, which usually occurs when anterior flow faces obstruction of the anterior flow to the aqueous humor. Essentially, the eye requires a photosynthetic pigment which allows for light to become chemical energy. Within seniors, this pigment over time splits with the oxygen to thereby generate phacolysis. Treatment
The procedure involved in the curing of phacolysis includes the reduction of intraocular pressure (IOP) in the eye followed by cataract extraction surgery.
Medical management is commonly used simply to control the inflammation temporarily. The reduction of intraocular pressure can be conducted through the use of a combination of topical and systemic IOP-lowering agents, cycloplegics, aqueous suppressants, hyper-osmotic agents, and anti-inflammatory drugs. Topical steroids also may assist in lowering intraocular pressure and decreasing pain.Previous to cataract surgery a variety of optometrical tests have to be conducted to comprehensively analyse an individuals eye-sight prior to the surgery. A refraction is also conducted to determine how much nearsightedness, farsightedness and/or astigmatism an individual may have. Additional specific measurements of the eye will be necessary in order to determine the curvature and length of the cornea in order to choose the most effective IOL which will need to be inserted during the surgery.Cataract surgery has become a very simple process which, with modern-day technology, can be conducted in a local anaesthetic procedure in an average time period of 15 minutes. The aim of cataract surgery is to replace the lens within the eye with an artificial lens to clear vision while removing any residue which could cloud vision. The cataract extraction surgery involves four major steps which includes; local anaesthetic, clearing of eye, intraocular lens is inserted and finally the contact lens to protect the eye which dissolves releasing antibiotics.Before major advancements in medical technology, cuts had to be manually made to the lens to conduct cataract extraction surgery, however, with the improvements in technology the LASIK procedure is the main procedure used to conduct cataract surgeries.