Master of Science, Doctor Duong Minh Phuc, from the High-Tech Eye Center at Tam Anh General Hospital TP HCM, reported that Mr. Nhan's right eye had 15 diopters of myopia and his left eye 14,5 diopters, accompanied by two diopters of astigmatism in each eye. Even with corrective glasses, the patient could only count fingers at a distance of one meter; without glasses, he could barely see. Examinations using a slit lamp microscope and optical coherence tomography (OCT) revealed grade 4 nuclear cataracts and retinal degeneration in both eyes.

According to Doctor Phuc, Mr. Nhan's severe myopia, characterized by an abnormally elongated eyeball, resulted in a deep anterior chamber and altered distances between intraocular structures, making the surgery more complex.

Progressive cataracts can lead to glaucoma, uveitis, and irreversible vision loss. In patients with retinal degeneration, the opaque lens further obscures the fundus, complicating the detection of complications such as retinal tears, detachment, or hemorrhage.

Associate Professor Nam (right) performs phacoemulsification to replace Mr. Nhan's lens. Photo: Tam Anh General Hospital

Doctors prescribed artificial intraocular lens (IOL) replacement surgery. For severely myopic patients with cataracts, these lenses are custom-designed for each eye, based on parameters such as eyeball axial length and corneal curvature. This ensures the correct power to replace the damaged lens and correct refractive errors. IOLs include monofocal and multifocal types, which must be ordered from Europe, taking approximately two months. However, given Mr. Nhan's pre-existing retinal degeneration, the prognosis for achieving maximum post-treatment vision was limited.

Associate Professor, Doctor Nguyen Thanh Nam, Director of the High-Tech Eye Center, used ultrasound waves from a phacoemulsification machine to emulsify the opaque lens, then implanted the replacement IOL. Post-surgery, Mr. Nhan received instructions to avoid water in his eyes and limit strenuous activity during the initial days. At a follow-up appointment one week later, the surgical wound showed good recovery, and his uncorrected vision reached 5/10 in the right eye and 3/10 in the left eye.

Associate Professor Nam advised patients to attend follow-up appointments as scheduled to monitor vision and retinal condition. Should any abnormal signs appear, such as blurred vision, black spots, floaters, red eyes, or eye pain, patients should seek immediate medical attention.

Cataracts occur when the eye's natural lens hardens and gradually loses its transparency, leading to progressive vision loss. The condition typically affects older individuals, those with a history of eye diseases, or those with underlying conditions like diabetes, hypertension, or cardiovascular disease. For individuals with severe myopia (over 6 diopters), the risk of developing cataracts is three times higher than for the general population, and the condition often progresses more rapidly and with greater complexity.

Associate Professor Nam recommended that individuals with myopia over 6 diopters, those over 60 years old, people with chronic illnesses, a history of eye trauma, or prolonged corticosteroid use undergo regular eye examinations every 6 months for early detection and timely treatment of any abnormalities.

Ngoc Kim Tham

*Patient's name has been changed