Cataracts
The eye is rather like a camera. There is a front clear window (the cornea) and a little way behind this and the pupil, lies a structure called the lens. This usually clear structure plays a very important part in focussing light onto the retina at the back of the eye. The retina corresponds to the film in a conventional camera, and is responsible for transmitting visual information to the brain.
As we age, the lens becomes cloudy and less light is able to pass through, giving the effect of looking through frosted glass. It also loses the ability to focus light sharply on the retina.
How do I know if I have a cataract?
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 less bright. 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.
Cataracts do not always require treatment, but advice should be sought if you are experiencing any of the symptoms described above.
When is a cataract treated?
If the cataract has progressed to the point where it is interfering with your vision, then surgical removal may be advised. Cataracts do not need to have progressed to a particular level of “maturity” before surgery is indicated. Modern techniques allow us to operate as soon as the cataract is impairing your vision to a level where it is affecting your lifestyle. Sometimes your vision may be reduced to the point that it no longer meets the legal standards for driving, and therefore surgery may be required.
How is a cataract treated?
Face & Eye’s experienced Consultant Eye Surgeons will remove the cataract (the central cloudy part of the lens) and usually replace this with a clear, plastic lens. 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. We are also able to offer you the most advanced accommodative and multifocal lens technologies.
Can cataracts be prevented?
There is no proven method for preventing cataract development and no proven treatment other than surgery. However, as cataracts frequently develop with age, it is important to have regular eye examinations, as we get older. This should be done preferably through a dilated pupil every 1 – 2 years.
Your optometrist or eye surgeon may also be able to detect signs of other conditions such as glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration.
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