Cataracts
A cataract is a misting or clouding of the lens of the eye, and is something that most people over the age of 60 develop as an age-related process. Other causes include the previous use of steroids, trauma (e.g. accidental damage to the eye) or a medical condition such as diabetes.
Cataracts cause a gradual and progressive blurring of vision. They can alter the focussing properties of the eye (requiring more frequent changes of spectacles) and also cause glare around bright lights (e.g. car headlights or the setting sun). Sometimes people notice a change in colour appreciation, or that things appear duller. Patients often comment that everything is much brighter and sharper and that colours appear much more vivid following cataract surgery.
Your optician is usually best placed to detect signs of cataract. This may be during your routine annual eye examination, or if you attend specifically because you have noticed the symptoms described above. Opticians often refer patients directly to an ophthalmologisit.
Cataracts do not always require surgical treatment, but advice should be sought if you are experiencing any of the symptoms described above. Our experienced Face & Eye Surgeons will remove the cataract (the central cloudy part of the lens) and replace this with a clear, plastic lens (an intraocular lens or IOL). This operation, when performed by an experienced surgeon, is relatively quick and usually very successful in restoring vision. This is one of the most frequently performed operations in the UK.
At Face & Eye, our surgeons use advanced micro-incision surgical techniques, with the latest in replacement lens implant technology e.g. the new Crystalens from Bausch and Lomb - www.crystalens.com
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