Cataracts

One of the leading causes of vision loss in people over the age of 45.

A cataract is a clouding of the normally transparent lens in your eye. The lens focuses light onto the retina at the back of your eye, which converts light into signals passed by nerves to your brain for processing, ultimately allowing you to see. When your lens becomes cloudy, the images projected onto your retina become blurry and unfocused—much like looking through a dirty or cloudy window.

Cataracts usually develop slowly over time, so your vision gradually becomes more cloudy. While the majority of cataracts are a result of aging, there are congenital cataracts which are present at birth, secondary cataracts that can result from eye surgery or diseases such as diabetes, and traumatic cataracts due to an injury to the eye.

While it is possible to live with mild cataracts, moderate and severe cataracts are generally treated with surgery. The procedure involves removing the clouded lens and replacing it with an intraocular lens (IOL) implant.

Cataract Surgery

Surgery begins with removal of the opacified, natural lens (also referred to as the crystalline lens) of the eye. Metabolic changes of the crystalline lens fibers, lead cataract develop and opacification (loss of transparency) over time, resulting in impaired or loss of vision.

Following removal of the crystalline lens, an artificial intraocular lens implant is implanted to restore clear vision. Cataract surgery is performed by an ophthalmologist in a surgical centre or hospital and is one of the most successful surgeries in North America with a very low complication rate.

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Symptoms

The symptoms people experience from cataracts may vary. Some individuals even report a temporary improvement in near vision when a cataract first develops, a phenomenon known as "second sight.”

Here is a list of possible signs and symptoms of developing cataracts:

Blurry or cloudy vision
Colors appear dim and less vibrant
Halos around lights
Double vision
Poor night vision
Improvement in near vision
Glare from lamps, sunlight, oncoming traffic when driving at night or indoor lighting

If you experience any change in your vision, visit your eye doctor immediately.

Causes

While the risk of developing a cataract does increase as you age, it is not the only risk factor. Research shows that there are environmental, health, and behavioural risk factors that can also play a role in cataract development. Many of these risk factors are avoidable and preventable.

These risk factors include:

Smoking and excessive alcohol consumption
Obesity
Diabetes
Hypertension
Certain medications such as steroids
History of eye injury or eye surgery
Family history
Prolonged exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation from the sun or other sources

Treatment

Treatment for cataracts involves surgery but being diagnosed with a cataract does not necessitate immediate surgery. It may not require surgery at all! You may be able to live with symptoms of early cataracts for some time by using visual aids such as new eyeglasses, anti-glare sunglasses, magnification lenses, strong bifocals, or brighter lighting to suit your needs.

Surgery should be considered when the condition begins to impair your vision to the extent that it affects your daily life; activities such as reading or driving, playing golf, playing cards, watching TV, etc. Together with your eye doctor, you can go over the pros and cons of cataract surgery to determine if and when surgery is right for you.

In most cases, delaying cataract surgery will not cause any long-term damage to the eye or surgical complications.