CATARACTS
WHAT ARE CATARACTS?
The lens of the eye is similar to the lens of a camera. It helps focus light onto the back of the eye (the retina) to allow us to see clearly.
The lens is made mostly out of water and protein. As we age the protein may begin to clump together and make the lens “cloudy”. This is what we call a cataract.
Cataracts are the most common cause of vision loss in people over the age of 40 and are one of the leading causes of blindness in the world.
In 2004 almost 1.5 million Australians aged 55 or over were diagnosed with cataracts.
TYPES OF CATARACTS
There are 3 types of cataracts:
- A Subcapsular cataract which occurs at the back of the lens. These are more prevalent with diabetics and with those on steroid medications.
- A nuclear cataract which occurs in the centre (nucleus) of the lens. These are more so associated with age.
- A cortical cataract which occurs at the front of the lens.
CATARACT SYMPTOMS
Cataracts usually start out very small and have low or no impact on your vision.
As cataracts grow vision symptoms may include:
- Distance vision becoming blurrier as if you are looking through a cloudy or hazy piece of glass.
- Difficulty with reading the newspaper or fine print.
- Colors may become duller.
- Difficulty with driving at night-especially the glare from oncoming headlights.
Causes of Cataracts
Besides the ageing process there are various factors that may cause cataracts which include:
- Increased ongoing blood pressure.
- Increased use of steroid medications.
- Previous eye injury or inflammation.
- Diabetes.
- Previous eye surgery.
- Hormone Replacement Therapy.
- Smoking
- High short sightedness.
TREATMENT OF CATARACTS
Treatment of cataracts is considered when symptoms are affecting your everyday life and new glasses don’t improve vision.
The only way to improve vision is with surgical intervention.
Prior to surgery various measurements and tests are conducted to ensure that you have every chance of a good outcome and also to rule out any other eye diseases.
Tests performed are:
- Ascan which measures what lens is to go into your eye.
- OCT scan which is an “x-ray” of the back of the eye to rule out other degenerative diseases.
- Retinal slit lamp examination.
Cataract surgery is a procedure done under local anaesthesia in a hospital or day procedure centre.
The surgeon removes the lens and replaces it with a clear plastic new lens, which is specific to your eye.
The aim of surgery is to restore good quality vision without the need for glasses in the distance in most cases.
Visual outcome and the need for glasses can be discussed with your surgeon.
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