A cataract is when the lens of your eye gets cloudy so it’s less see-through. This can make your vision blurred or misty over time. Cataracts often build up slowly over several years.
Your lens is near the front of your eye just behind your iris (the coloured part of your eye). It’s normally see-through and helps you to see things clearly. Your lens directs light rays onto the back of your eyeball (retina) to form a picture, which is then sent to your brain.
If you have a cataract, proteins in the lens of your eye change over time. This causes your lens to become cloudy, which makes your vision blurry. Cataracts usually form over a long period of time. This makes your eyesight get worse very slowly. You're more likely to develop cataracts as you get older. You can get a cataract in just one or both of your eyes.
The only way to treat a cataract is to replace your cloudy lens with an artificial one. But your decision to have cataracts surgery may depend on how much your cataracts affect your daily life. Some cataracts may not change your vision at first. But you may decide to have surgery if your cataracts are stopping you from reading or driving safely at night.
Cataracts are caused by changes in your eye that make your lens cloudy. These changes usually happen naturally as you get older. But other things may make you more likely to get cataracts. These include:
There are different types of cataracts that can affect adults. These form in different parts of the lens in your eye.
The three main types of cataracts are:
Some babies are born with cataracts (called congenital cataracts).
If you have a cataract, you may not notice any symptoms at first. Cataracts aren’t usually painful. Your symptoms will depend on:
Cataract symptoms include:
If you have cataracts, you may notice that the prescription for your glasses or contact lenses changes more often than usual.
Some of these symptoms could be caused by problems other than cataracts – for example, diabetes or glaucoma. So if you notice any changes to your eyesight, make an appointment with your local opticians. An optometrist can check the health of your eyes, test your sight and prescribe glasses and contact lenses if you need them.
If you think you have symptoms of cataracts, get your eyes tested by an optometrist. They’ll look into your eyes using a special instrument called an ophthalmoscope.
If you have a cataract, your optometrist will be able to see that the lens of your eye is cloudy. Your lens may look brown or white when they shine a bright light into your eye. Your optometrist will then refer you to an ophthalmologist for treatment. An ophthalmologist is a doctor who specialises in eye health.
Your optician may notice you have a cataract during a routine eye test. This is because the changes in your lens can happen slowly over many years – so you may not have noticed any symptoms.
If your cataracts aren’t very bad, you may be able to try some things to help you see more clearly. You may find that:
Because cataracts are likely to get worse over time, these options will only work for a short while. You’ll need to have regular eye examinations to check your cataracts and make sure your vision isn’t getting worse. If your eyesight keeps getting worse, your optometrist may recommend that you have cataracts surgery.
Removing your cataract with surgery is the only way to get your vision back to normal. Your ophthalmologist will talk to you about whether or not cataracts surgery is right for you. This will depend on lots of things, such as how much your cataract is affecting your daily activities.
Cataracts affect everyone differently. If you don’t read much, you may not be bothered if your cataracts are making it harder for you to read. In that case, you may decide to wait longer for surgery. But if you drive a lot, especially at night, or need to see things in detail, you may decide to have a cataracts operation sooner.
Most cataracts are removed during an operation called phacoemulsification. This usually takes around 15 to 20 minutes and is carried out under local anaesthesia . In the procedure, your surgeon will use a special probe to destroy your cloudy lens with ultrasound. Your lens is then taken out and replaced with a lens made from a clear, artificial material such as plastic.
Your surgeon will usually only operate on one eye at a time. If you have cataracts in both eyes, your eye with the worst vision will usually be treated first. You’ll have the second operation once your surgeon knows that the first one worked well.
Sometimes, your surgeon may recommend having surgery on both eyes at the same time. This could be because you’re unlikely to have any serious eye complications after surgery so it’s safe for you to have just one operation. Or it may be safer for you to have one operation rather than two. This might be because you need to have a general anaesthetic rather than a local one, and you’re likely to react badly to it. Speak to your surgeon to find out if this is an option for you.
Most people don’t have any sight problems after surgery. But you may need to wear reading glasses afterwards. If your vision doesn’t get better after surgery, this may be because you have another eye condition, such as glaucoma or age-related macular degeneration. Sometimes, your ophthalmologist can’t diagnose these other eye conditions until your cataract has been taken away.
Sometimes, cataracts surgery can cause a condition called posterior capsule opacification. This may make your vision cloudy, but it’s not the same as a cataract. It's caused by a thickening of your natural lens casing – the part of your eye that holds your lens in place. This lens casing isn’t usually taken away during surgery. If you have this condition, you’ll be offered a minor laser procedure to fix your vision. This can usually be done in an outpatient clinic and only takes a few minutes.
Cataracts may stop you doing some activities you enjoy, such as reading, driving or watching TV. If your cataract isn’t treated, you may eventually not be able to see properly at all. If your cataracts are affecting your vision, you may be more likely to have an accident or a fall. But cataracts are normally diagnosed and treated well before they affect your vision really badly.
Cataracts can make it harder for your ophthalmologist to diagnose other long-term eye conditions, such as glaucoma. If you have diabetes, you’ll need to have some special eye tests regularly to check your eyes are healthy. But if you have a cataract as well as diabetes, these special eye tests may not work so well. This is why you may be advised to have the cataract taken away.
Sometimes cataracts can cause a condition called angle-closure glaucoma. This may happen if a cataract makes your lens swell (get bigger). If you have angle-closure glaucoma, the pressure in your eye increases very quickly. This can cause sudden, strong pain in your eye, blurred vision and a red eye. You may also have a headache and feel sick. If you have any of these symptoms, get medical help straight away to make sure your sight isn’t permanently damaged.
You can’t prevent cataracts. But you may be able to reduce your chances of getting one by:
Doctors don’t recommend any particular foods or food supplements to prevent cataracts.
To stop your cataracts getting very bad:
Cataracts affect people in different ways so it’s difficult to predict how they’ll affect your vision. But your vision will probably keep getting worse if you don't have your cataract taken away and lens replaced. This may happen slowly, sometimes over a number of years. If you have an underlying medical condition such as diabetes, your vision may be affected more quickly.
Cataracts affect people in different ways so it’s difficult to predict how they’ll affect your vision. But your vision will probably keep getting worse if you don't have your cataract taken away and lens replaced. This may happen slowly, sometimes over a number of years. If you have an underlying medical condition such as diabetes, your vision may be affected more quickly.
Your cataract can’t come back after surgery. This is because your natural lens has been taken away and replaced with an artificial lens. If your vision is still cloudy after cataracts surgery, you may have developed a condition called posterior capsule opacification. For more information, see our section: Cataracts treatment above.
Whether or not you can drive will depend on how bad your cataract is. If your cataract isn’t affecting your vision, it’s often safe for you to drive
Your optometrist or ophthalmologist will be able to test whether your vision meets the standards. It’s fine if you need to wear glasses or contact lenses to meet the criteria.
Cataracts affect people in different ways so it’s difficult to predict how they’ll affect your vision. But your vision will probably keep getting worse if you don't have your cataract taken away and lens replaced. This may happen slowly, sometimes over a number of years. If you have an underlying medical condition such as diabetes, your vision may be affected more quickly.
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