Cataracts are a common age-related eye condition characterised by the clouding of the eye’s natural lens, leading to blurred vision, glare sensitivity, and difficulty seeing in low light.
Cataracts are very common and most people will know someone who has them. But what causes them?
The lens inside the eye helps to focus light onto the retina, allowing a clear image to be transmitted to the brain. As we age, proteins in the eye’s lens begin to break down, which eventually leads to it becoming clouded or murky. While this process occurs as a natural part of ageing other factors can contribute to the development of cataracts. Injury to the eye, smoking, UV damage, underlying conditions and genetic predisposition can all lead to cataracts developing earlier and more quickly.
Keeping your eyes healthy can go a long way to minimising your risk of developing cataracts early. Cataracts can eventually cause complete vision loss.
However, today many surgical treatments are available that can completely restore eyesight.
Nuclear sclerosis cataracts are caused by the natural aging process of the eye’s lens. This type of cataract starts in the central area of the eye’s lens causing it to harden and change its colour. This affects the way colour is perceived, causes cloudiness in the vision, and exacerbates shortsightedness.
Cortical cataracts are caused by changes in the water content and structure of the lens fibres in the outer edges of the lens. The edges of the lens are affected first and gradually spread across its surface with characteristic white streaks. This causes cloudy vision and glare – symptoms which are especially noticeable when driving at night.
Posterior subcapsular cataracts are caused by the gradual thickening and clouding of the capsule. This capsule is a thin membrane that surrounds and supports the back of the lens. This type of cataract quickly affects the vision and is usually caused by ageing, though people with conditions like diabetes are at a higher risk.
The only way to treat cataracts is with surgery. When the eye’s lens becomes cloudy, glasses and contact lenses cannot provide vision correction.
Cataract surgery today is a safe and efficient procedures that take less than 30 minutes. These procedures allow thousands of people each year to regain clear vision. Cataract surgery involves breaking up and removing the eye’s natural lens which is then replaced by an artificial alternative.
Different lenses are available to create different vision profiles.
Monofocal lenses correct vision at one distance — most people opt to have clear distance vision and to continue wearing glasses for near-vision activities like reading.
Trifocals lenses aim to provide vision correction at all distances providing complete independence from glasses and contact lenses.
Toric versions of the monofocal and trifocal lenses are available for those with astigmatism. It is possible to correct astigmatism and near or farsightedness when undergoing cataract surgery.
