Cataracts:

A cataract is simply an area of opaqueness within the normally transparent lens of the eye. Light entering the eye passes through the lens where it is focused on to the retina at the back of the eye to give a clear image which we see. The opacity from the cataract will reduce the transmission of light through the lens and cause a blurring of vision in the affected eye similar to the effect of trying to look through a frosted glass window compared with a window containing clear glass.

Eye - Cataracts

The majority of cataracts are known as 'senile cataracts', which are (as the name suggests) increasingly common with advancing age typically causing symptoms from the sixth decade of life. They are best thought of as representing a degenerative process in the lens and are thus not preventable. Cataracts develop over a period of several years, affect men and women equally and are usually present in both eyes of affected people to some, albeit a differing, extent. Occasionally, cataracts can result from injury or inflammation to the eye and a small number of babies are even born with them.

As age-related cataracts usually develop progressively over years, affected individuals often merely notice slight blurring of their vision and visit their optician in case they need 'stronger' glasses. Unfortunately changing to 'stronger' spectacles cannot improve the symptoms caused by cataracts. The gradual deterioration in vision is often accompanied by a tendency to see halos around bright lights. People often notice this around car headlights and streetlights when out driving their car at night.

The only treatment currently available for cataracts is surgery. Many cataracts though remain small for many years and often do not require surgery at all - an eye surgeon (ophthalmologist) will usually only consider operation worthwhile if the cataract is significantly affecting vision.

Surgery for cataracts usually results in an almost miraculous improvement in vision. However, this will only be the case if the retina, akin to the film at the back of the camera, is healthy. Unfortunately some people with age-related cataracts also have age-related macular degeneration (a further age-related change but this time affecting the retina) which is usually not treatable. In these cases although the cataract can be successfully removed the vision may remain poor because of the damage at the back of the eye on the retina. The majority of patients with cataracts, however, have an excellent result from surgery. The procedure, which literally dissolves the affected lens before replacing this with a plastic implant, is the commonest eye operation performed today and is typically done under a local anaesthetic as a day case.

Disclaimer: This page is for informational purposes only and should not be considered as medical advice or substituted for professional advice. Always consult your doctor with your questions and concerns.