Cataracts

 

Hello everyone today we are looking at cataracts how many of us know what that is.

Cataracts are a clouding of the eye’s natural lens, which normally sits just behind the iris and focuses light. As the lens becomes cloudy, vision gradually becomes blurry, hazy, or dim, much like looking through a fogged‑up window. Cataracts are extremely common with age and are one of the leading cases of vision impairment worldwide.

How does having cataracts feel, well from what I could find out this, blurred or foggy vision, glare or halos around lights usually at night. There is a sensitivity to bright lights and the need for brighter light when doing stuff and reading. There can be Double vision in one eye.

These symptoms usually develop slowly, and early cataracts may cause no noticeable problems.

Why do cataracts happen well over time, the proteins that make up the lens break down and clump together, forming cloudy patches. The most common causes are ageing, UV exposure from sunlight, family history of cataracts, diabetes, long‑term steroid use, smoking or previous eye injury or surgery

In rare cases, babies can be born with cataracts (congenital cataracts).

Often an optometrist will diagnose cataracts during a comprehensive eye exam. This is why regular eye exams are recommended from age 40 onward, even without symptoms.

There is no medication, diet, or eye drop that can reverse cataracts. Treatment depends on how much they affect daily life.

In the early stage’s things like stronger lighting, updated glasses, and anti‑glare sunglasses may help.

However, when vision is significantly affected cataract surgery is the only effective treatment. This involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with a clear artificial lens (an intraocular lens, or IOL)

The procedure is quick (about 30 minutes), usually done under local anaesthetic, and has a very high success rate. Most people notice clearer vision within days.

You can’t completely prevent them, but you can reduce risk or slow progression by wear UV‑blocking sunglasses and a hat outdoors, quit smoking, make sure your diabetes is under control and have regular eye exams.