Cataracts

What are Cataracts?

Cataracts are a common cause of reduced vision as we grow older. It is caused by the the eye’s normally clear lens becoming cloudy. As the lens becomes increasingly cloudy, the vision out of the affected eye is reduced. Patients often complain of a "film" across their vision, "blurry" vision or increased glare.

Patients are often apprehensive that they may go blind permenantly but luckily cataract surgery is very common and straightforward to restore clear vision.

How Does Cataract Impact Your Health?

Anatomical Changes: Over time, the cataract may grow larger, making it harder to see and causing vision to appear blurred or dim.
Vision Impairment: As cataracts develop, they can lead to various vision problems, including:
Blurred or hazy vision
Increased sensitivity to glare
Reduced intensity of colours
Poor night vision
Double vision in one eye
Impact on Daily Life: Vision loss due to cataracts can interfere with everyday activities like reading, driving, and recognising faces. It can also reduce the quality of life, increase the risk of accidents, and sometimes lead to social isolation.
Other Health Complications: People with reduced vision from cataracts may be at a higher risk for falls and fractures, depression, and, in some cases, other eye diseases like glaucoma.

Treatment of Cataracts

Surgery is the only treatment option for cataracts and is highly effective.

Cataract surgery is recommended when the cataract is severe enough to impact the patient's daily activities, e.g. reading and driving.

Cataract surgery involves the removal of the cloudy lens inside your eye and replacement with an artificial clear one, called an Intraocular Lens (IOL). We perform state of the art measurements of both your eyes to calculate the correct tailored IOL for each eye.

Cataract surgery is highly effective in restoring clear vision and addressing the visual impairments caused by cataracts. If you suspect you have cataracts or are experiencing vision changes, it's advisable to consult an ophthalmologist for an accurate diagnosis and appropriate treatment recommendations.