Cataract is a condition when the natural crystalline lens in your eye become progressively cloudy.
It is the most common cause of preventable blindness in the world.
What are the symptoms of cataracts?
Cloudy or blurry vision.
Reduced contrast sensitivity.
Poor night vision.
Poor colour perception.
Glare and haloes.
Frequent prescription changes in you eyeglasses or contact lenses.
These symptoms can also be a sign of other eye problems. If you have any these symptoms, have your eyes examined by your optometrist or ophthalmologist right away.
What Causes Cataracts?
Advanced Age.
Smoking.
UV radiation (sunlight) exposure.
Poorly controlled diabetes.
Taking certain types of medication, e.g. corticosteroid.
Congenital.
Trauma to the eye.
What are the types of cataracts?
They are classified based on where and how they develop in your eye.
Nuclear
Cortical
Posterior capsular cataracts
Congenital
Secondary cataracts
Traumatic
Radiation
When do I need cataract surgery?
There is no specific time for performing a cataract surgery.
The most ideal time for surgery is when he vision has reduced to the extent that it now starts to affect duties of your day to day life e.g. reading, driving
Your ophthalmologist will discuss this with you. Once you understand the risks and benefits of surgery, you can make an informed decision about whether cataract surgery is right for you.
Do not go for too long without removing a cataract that has been deemed mature to avoid complications.
How is a cataract diagnosed?
A cataract can only be diagnosed through a comprehensive eye examination by an eye doctor.
DO NOT RELY ON FAMILY OR FRIENDS FOR A DIAGNOSIS!
Is there any cure for cataracts which does not involve surgery?
Currently, there is no other way to get rid of cataracts besides surgery.
No eyedrops can make your cataracts to go away.
Can a cataract come back after surgery?
It is not possible for a cataract to come back because the lens, where the cataract grows, has been removed.
The new lens implant will last a lifetime and will not need maintenance or replacement.
However, there is the risk that the membrane that lies behind the replacement lens can become cloudy. This is called Posterior Capsular Opacification or PCO.
A painless, outpatient procedure called laser capsulotomy to remove the PCO will be performed, and this only takes a few minutes.