Cataracts
Cataracts are an eye condition that I do see on a regular basis. Most cataracts are due to ageing, by the time we are 75 years of age most of us do have cataracts. What are cataracts? It is the opacification of the normally clear crystalline lens.1 What you notice with cataracts is a slowly progressive visual loss or blurring, usually over months to years, affecting one or both eyes.1 Glare, particularly from oncoming headlights while driving at night as well as reduced colour perception can occur.1
There are also different types of cataracts. Most commonly with age are nuclear cataracts which I can see as a yellow or brown discoloration of the central part of the lens.1 There are also posterior sub-capsular cataracts which appear at the posterior part of the lens. Glare and difficulty reading are common symptoms. This particular type of cataract can occur due to long-term steroid use for inflammatory conditions, diabetes and trauma.1 Another type of cataracts are cortical cataracts which look like spokes that can involve the anterior and posterior lens.1 You may not notice any vision changes initially however as the opacities grow from the periphery to the central part of the lens, the vision loss or blurring will be more obvious.
What if I have cataracts? Initially there may be changes in your spectacle prescription and updating your spectacles and/or contact lenses may be all you need to do to have good vision. Regularly monitoring your cataracts is recommended with regular eye examinations as well as wearing sunglasses which protects your eyes from harmful UV rays which accelerate cataract progression. As the cataracts progress, changing your prescription may not be sufficient and a referral to see an ophthalmologist that specialises in cataract surgery can be made to replace your lens with a new lens that will correct your vision. There are multifocal lenses now readily available to correct your distance and near vision that may be suitable depending on your circumstances. The cataract surgery is usually in a day surgery clinic.
It is always important to have an eye examination every 2 years and if over the age of 65, every year is recommended to thoroughly assess the vision and health of your eyes. Looking for cataracts is part of the health assessment.
Rhee, D.J & Pyfer, M.F. (1999) The Wills Eye Manual (3rd Ed.)
