CATARACT

What is a cataract?

A cataract is a clouding of the lens inside the eye that may result in poor vision.
Most cataracts form as a result of ageing and long-term exposure to ultraviolet light.

What are the symptoms?

• Cataracts are usually associated with:
• Slow and painless blurring of vision that may not improve with prescription glasses
• Increased sensitivity to bright lights, such as while driving at night.
• Changes in how colour is seen – objects may appear to have a yellow or brown tinge.

Who is at risk?

Age: for each decade over 50 years of age the risk is more than doubles

• Exposure to sunlight
• Smokers
• Those who have used corticosteroid medications for long periods
• People who have had an eye injury

What can be done?

• New prescription glasses may help to improve vision for some people. However, as cataracts worsen, surgery may be required to restore vision
• Cataract surgery is performed by an ophthalmologist. The cloudy lens in the eye is replaced with a new synthetic one.
• Cataract surgery is common, very safe, and is usually done as a day surgery procedure under local anaesthesia.