The Eye - Medical Conditions [back]
Cataract

A cataract is a progressive clouding of the lens inside the eye – it is not a skin that grows over the eye. The lens is usually clear, focusing light on the retina to form a clear image. When you develop a cataract, the image on the retina is out of focus and unclear.
Developing a cataract is part of the natural ageing process and is therefore not really a disease. Most people over the age of 60 have some cataract.

How does cataract affect the sight?

People with cataract often complain of blurred vision – like looking through a dirty window or out on a misty day. Some people experience ‘doubling’ or ‘ghosting’ of images, for example when watching television.
Cataracts can cause you to be more light sensitive, and dazzled by car headlights and sunlight. If this occurs, tinted lenses during the day and anti reflection coated lenses for driving can help to ease glare symptoms. Cataract also alters the way we see colours, and may cause colours to appear faded or washed out.

What treatment is available?
In the early stages, cataracts can be dealt with by a simple change in spectacle prescription.
Cataracts usually develop slowly and are not painful and many people can carry on enjoying their vision for many years without thinking about surgery. When the cataract interferes with daily life and affects your ability to work, read or do the things you enjoy, a cataract operation may be advised. This is especially important if you drive, as you will have to meet the legal visual standards.

Cataract surgery is a relatively simple procedure in which the cloudy lens is removed and replaced with a clear plastic implant. You do not have to wait until your vision becomes very poor before you have surgery, but due to the slight (1 in 1000) risk of complications during surgery, most people wait until their lifestyle is affected by the cataract and their vision can no longer be improved with spectacles.

Although cataracts are more common as you get older, some people with other conditions such as diabetes, or those on certain medications, such as steroids, may develop cataracts earlier

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