Cataract Surgery

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 -- it's actually the last phase of a series of gradual changes in the eye, starting in youth, that eventually have an impact on vision in later life.

This is akin to other age-related changes in the human body, such as hair turning grey, and skin becoming wrinkled.

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.

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 advisable).

• Hazy, cloudy, or filmy vision, for example, when watching TV, reading, driving, etc.
• Decreased quality of vision at night, particularly with oncoming headlights.
• Increased sensitivity to glare or bright sunlight.
• Colours don't seem normal or as bright as before (colours appear washed out).
• Double vision, even with one eye closed.

Cataracts generally start to become bothersome after age 60, although some people may not have problems until much later in life. Because cataracts develop gradually, sometimes people don't realise their vision is being affected until it has become quite blurred, and they have difficulty carrying out their everyday tasks.

Furthermore, age is not a barrier to 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.

If you are over 60 years of age and you have these symptoms, 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.