10 cataract facts
In this article we will describe 10 cataract facts.
1. A cataract is – a clouding of the natural lens in the eye, which can cause vision problems, and eventually blindness.
2. Cataracts are very common – and associated with aging; but they can also also be caused by trauma, disease, and certain medications. Over half of people over 65 years have some stage of cataract development in one or both eyes.
Typical cataract
3. Cataracts are the most common cause of blindness in the world – according to the World Health Organisation (WHO), 51% of worldwide blindness is caused by cataracts – a figure that equates to around 20 million people.
4. Three different types of cataract – nuclear sclerotic, cortical and posterior subcapsular.
5. Symptoms of cataracts – include blurred or dimmed vision, sensitivity to light and glare, difficulty seeing at night, and needing brighter light for reading and other activities.
Cataracts are not always visible initially. So it is important that if you notice any changes in your eyesight, you are assessed by an optician or eye doctor.
6. Cataracts can be diagnosed – by opticians and some doctors. A dilated eye examination, and other tests are also needed.
7. Treatment for cataracts – the only treatment is surgery, which involves removing the clouded lens and replacing it with an artificial one. Cataract surgery is safe and effective, with a high success rate in restoring vision. Operations are carried out on a day-patient basis, with only a local anaesthetic required.
Options such as stronger glasses or using a reading light may bring symptomatic improvement in the early stages of a cataract but this improvement is unlikely to last.
In some cases, they may not need to be removed immediately if they are not significantly impacting vision or daily life.
8. If left untreated – cataracts can lead to vision loss and even blindness, making it important to seek treatment as soon as symptoms begin to appear.
9. Cataracts and driving – if you have cataracts, it could affect your ability to drive. But you do not need to tell the DVLA if you have (or previously had) cataracts, if you still meet the visual standards for driving.
10. Cataracts cannot ‘grow back’ after surgery – the lens is the part of the eye that is affected by the cataract and it is removed and replaced with a plastic one, on which cataracts cannot develop.
It is possible for some clouding of new lens to occur; but if that happens it can be cleared up with laser treatment and no further need for surgery.
Summary
We have described 10 cataract facts. We hope you understand them better now.
