– Ed
When the lens of the eye, that is located directly behind the pupil, becomes opaque, it is called a cataract. The crystalline lens, together with the clear front surface of the eye (cornea) will focus light onto the retina, beginning the process of sight.
The crystalline lens is made of mostly water and protein. The protein is arranged in a precise way that keeps the lens clear and lets light pass through it.
When you develop a cataract, this orderly arrangement of protein in the lens gets disrupted. This causes the lens to become cloudy, which prevents light from being focused clearly on the retina. Cataracts cause blurry vision that cannot always be corrected with spectacles or contact lenses. Over time, a cataract will get worse, until eventually it will lead to blindness.
What causes cataracts?
Cataracts are commonly caused by aging. However, certain factors can increase the risk of cataracts. For example, long-term exposure of the eyes to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from sunlight and other sources have been associated with cataract formation. Smoking, certain medications, and health problems such as diabetes and hypertension also increase your risk of cataracts.
Some cataracts, called traumatic cataracts, can occur at any age following an injury to the eye. Sometimes, cataracts are present at birth; these are called congenital cataracts.
Signs and Symptoms
Symptoms of cataracts can begin very gradually or relatively quickly, depending on the type of cataracts you have. Many people who experience early symptoms of cataracts, say it’s like viewing the world through a foggy window. Some people just notice that they are not seeing as well as they used to, or experience scattering of light and difficulty with night driving.
Your Eye Care Professional will detect early cataract changes during a routine eye examination. With the right equipment, it is very easy to detect lens changes in the eye, even before you notice any symptoms yourself. Sometimes, cataracts may cause frequent changes in your spectacle prescription.
Available treatment options
The good news is, that cataract surgery is one of the safest and most rewarding medical procedures that can be done. Outcomes, typically are excellent.
During the procedure, your cataract surgeon will remove the cloudy lens and replace it with a clear lens implant called an intraocular lens, or IOL.
The procedure is usually done under local anaesthetic, with few after effects and rapid recovery. In most instances, the patient can go home soon after the procedure. The reward is mostly profound.
There are several types of IOLs your surgeon can choose from, depending on your specific needs. For example, in addition to restoring vision lost to cataracts, some IOLs can also correct astigmatism.
During your pre-operative exam and consultation, your cataract surgeon can help you choose the best IOL for your visual needs, depending on how much freedom from spectacles or contact lenses you desire after cataract surgery.
When is the right time to have surgery?
Over time, cataracts will affect your vision. During these stages, it may only be necessary to change the optical prescription to restore vision. When it starts to affect your functional vision, in other words, when, with your best prescription, you can’t perform the visual tasks you need to, it is time to consider surgery.
Who does cataract surgery?
Cataract surgery is performed by an ophthalmologist or eye surgeon. The most likely scenario is that your optometrist will diagnose the cataracts on routine eye examination and refer you to an ophthalmologist. The ophthalmologist may recommend that the optometrist manages the progress of the cataract over time or decide to do the procedure, depending on your functional vision.