CATARACTS - What you should know

A cataract is a painless clouding of the clear lens of the eye, 

normally caused by ageing.

 

It causes problems to vision, which is often described by those with cataracts as being 'foggy' or 'frosty'. Surgery to remove the lens is the most common form of treatment. Left untreated cataracts can lead to blindness.

There are three types of cataracts: 

1) Nuclear cataracts: located in the centre of the lens. 

2) Cortical cataracts: start at the outer edges of the lens and extend to the centre.

3) Subcapsular cataracts: affect the back of the lens.

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CATARACTS - Symptoms of cataracts

Cataracts usually develop as a result of ageing, which 

causes changes to the structure of the lens of the eye.

 

The most common symptoms of cataracts include:

• Cloudy, fuzzy or blurred vision.
• Spots in vision.
• Sensitivity to light.
• Seeing "halos" around lights.
• Poor night vision.
• Perceiving colour as faded or washed out.

The lens of the eye changes shape and focuses incoming light onto the retina to allow you to see things clearly both near and far away.

As you age, the lens tissues starts to break down and may clump together to form a cloud in a small part of the lens. Over time the cloud may spread and become more dense, affecting a larger area of the lens and making vision worse.

Risk factors

Aside from ageing, changes to the tissue that makes up your eye can be caused by injury, genetic disorders or other health problems.

Risk factors for developing cataracts include:

• Diabetes
• High blood pressure
• Injury to the eye
• Smoking or excess alcohol consumption
• Sunlight exposure
• Arthritis
• Family history of cataracts
• Short sightedness
• Some medications used to lower blood pressure
• Obesity

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CATARACTS - How to prevent and treat cataracts

Although the cause of cataracts if not clear, there are ways 

in which to reduce the risk of developing them.

 

The main cause of cataracts is ageing with the number of people affected increasing from about 4 per cent of the population aged 50-59 years, to more than 60 to 70 per cent of those aged 90 years plus. It is also more common for women to develop cataracts than men.

You can reduce the risk of developing cataracts by quitting smoking if you smoke and protecting your eyes from the sun as ultraviolet light may lead to the development of cataracts. Having regular eye tests to catch a cataract early is also recommended.

To diagnose cataracts a doctor or optometrist will undertake a comprehensive eye examination. During early stages the symptoms of cataracts can usually be improved through glasses, strong bifocals, magnification or special lighting.

When the cataracts become more severe and impact upon lifestyle, for example preventing someone from driving, surgery is undertaken to remove the cloudy lens and replace it with a clear, plastic intraocular lens implant, which when inserted, becomes part of the eye. Cataract surgery is usually done under local anaesthesia and only requires a day visit to the hospital. The surgery restores sight to the level of being able to drive in 85 per cent of cases.

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