What is a cataract?
The lens of a human eye works rather like the lens of a camera. This clear lens helps to focus light onto the retina at the back of the eye to form a sharp image.
A cataract is a cloudiness that develops in the normally clear lens inside the eye. It occurs as a part of the eye’s ageing process - it is not a growth, a white film, or a kind of cancer, nor is it caused by overuse of the eye. An age-related cataract is not something that was absent one day and just appeared the next day – they are caused by the deterioration of the normal protein structure within the lens of the eye as a person ages.
Depending on the size and location of the cloudy areas in the lens, you may not be aware a cataract is developing. As the cataract progresses, you may become aware of one of the following symptoms:
- Deterioration of long or short vision, or even both
- Hazy or cloudy vision
- Decreased night vision
- Sensitivity to light or intolerance to glare
- Increasing the strength of your glasses no longer gives you clear vision
Normal Vision Same scene view by a person with cataracts
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Who gets cataracts?
Most people with cataracts are healthy and have no other eye disease. Cataracts occur mainly in people over the age of 60 years as part of the normal aging process, but can occur in people as young as 40. The development of cataracts is similar to other age-related changes in the human body, such as hair turning grey, and skin becoming wrinkled. Cataracts are the leading cause of vision loss in older adults and may affect up to 60% of adults over the age of 65 year.
The risk of cataract increases as you get older. Other risk factors for cataract include:
- Certain diseases such as diabetes.
- Smoking and alcohol use.
- Prolonged exposure to sunlight
How are cataracts treated?
In the early stages a change in the prescription of your glasses may be enough. However, cataract micro-surgery is the only effective treatment for more advanced cataracts. There is no evidence that a change in diet or medications will stop or slow cataract formation.
Surgery involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with an artificial lens.
A cataract needs to be removed only when vision loss interferes with your everyday activities, such as driving, reading, or watching TV.
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At what point do I need surgery?
When deteriorating vision from a cataract begins to interfere with your work or lifestyle it is time to give the situation serious consideration. In modern societies, cataracts rarely cause blindness, but they do reduce the sharpness and quality of people’s vision, thus affecting their ability to do everyday work and leisure activities. When this occurs, surgery may provide the best solution.
If you are over 60 years of age and you have symptoms of a cataract, and you find that glasses do not correct the problem, then an eye examination is advisable in order to determine if a cataract has developed and if surgery is appropriate.
You and your eye surgeon can make this decision together. Once you understand the benefits and risks of surgery, you can make an informed decision about whether cataract surgery is right for you.
Age is no barrier to having cataract surgery - people over the age of 100 years have had the surgery! In fact, there is evidence that, in older people, an added benefit of the surgery is that it can reduce the likelihood of falls, hip fractures, and the need for admission to a nursing home.
There are numerous benefits from having the surgery -- it is not uncommon for patients to feel that their vision following this surgery is better than it has been since they were 40 years of age.
And now, thanks to remarkable advances in intra-ocular lens design, many people can have the added convenience of being able to greatly reduce or avoid the need to wear reading glasses or distance glasses (though sunglasses are still recommended).
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