A cataract is a clouding of the lens inside the eye that may result in poor vision.
Most cataracts form as a result of ageing and long-term exposure to ultraviolet light.What are the symptoms?
CATARACT
What is a cataract?
Cataracts are usually associated with:
Slow and painless blurring of vision that may not improve with prescription glasses
Increased sensitivity to bright lights, such as while driving at night.
Changes in how colour is seen – objects may appear to have a yellow or brown tinge.
Who is at risk?
Age: for each decade over 50 years of age the risk is more than doubles
Exposure to sunlight
Smokers
Those who have used corticosteroid medications for long periods
People who have had an eye injury
What can be done?
New prescription glasses may help to improve vision for some people. However, as cataracts worsen, surgery may be required to restore vision
Cataract surgery is performed by an ophthalmologist. The cloudy lens in the eye is replaced with a new synthetic one.
Cataract surgery is common, very safe, and is usually done as a day surgery procedure under local anaesthesia.