Cataracts

You get a cataract when the clear lens inside your eye becomes cloudy or misty. This is a gradual process that usually happens as we get older. It does not hurt.
The early stages of cataract do not necessarily affect your sight.

The only proven treatment for a cataract is surgery. If the cataract gets to the stage where it affects your sight, The Big Optician will refer you to hospital to have this done. The surgery is carried out under local anaesthetic and is very safe. Ince you have had the cataract removed, it will not return.

Why does cataract occur?

Younger people can develop cataracts if they have an injury to the eye. Some medical conditions including diabetes or taking some sorts of medication may also cause cataracts. A very small number of babies are born with a cataract.

Many people with a cataract notice that they need the prescription for their glasses changing. If you are long-sighted, you may even notice that you need your glasses less than you did before you had the cataract! You may notice that your vision is less clear and distinct. Car headlights and streetlights can become dazzling. You may experience difficulties moving from shade to sunlit areas. Colours may look different too and become faded or yellowed. If you experience any of these symptoms, make an appointment to see your optometerist at The Big Optician.

There are various supplements on the market which claim to help slow the progression of cataracts and some eye drops have benn marketed as a treatment for them. There is no scientific evidence to suggest that any of these can prevent or treat cataracts. The best advice to try to prevent cataracts, or to stop them getting worse, is to stop smoking and to wear good-quality sunglasses with full UV protection.

If your cataract is affecting your day-to-day life (for example driving, reading or cooking), and your optometrist cannot improve this enough by changing your glasses, they will refer you to an opthamologist (specialist eye doctor) for surgery. This involves removing the cloudy lens and replacing it with a clear plastic one.

You will have an initial appointment where the ophthalmologist will assess and measure your eyes. You will be asked about your general health to help make sure that the operation is suitable for you. The ophthalmologist may also be able to correct your short- or long-sightedness so that you do not need to wear your glasses as much after the operation as you did before.

Most cataract operations are done using a local anaesthetic. You will be awake, but the aneasthetist will make sure you do not feel the area around your eye. You will hear the opthamologist explaining what they are doing, and may see some vague movements around the eye. The opthamologist makes a tiny cut in the eye to remove the cataract, and will, in most cases, insert a plastic replacement lens so that you can see clearly. This will usually take around 15 to 20 minutes, although it can take longer.

You will not normally need stitches, but your eye will be covered to protect it from knocks for a few days after the operation. You will be allowed to go home the same day, but should have someone to go with you. Do not drive.

The opthamologist will give you eye drops to use for the first few weeks after your operation. Avoid heavy lifting and strenuous exercise immediately after the operation, but carry on with most other activities round the home as normal. Avoid eye make-up and try not to get soapy water in your eyes when you wash your hair. If you go out on a windy day, you may feel safer with suglasses to prevent grit getting in your eye. Ask your opthamologist about when you can go back to work.

Your eyesight will settle down in a few days or weeks. You will probably find that your glasses will need changing after the operation, so you will need to see your optometrist again for an eye examination a few weeks after the surgery. Your opthamologist or optometerist will be able to advise you as to when you can start driving again.

You may find that it takes a few weeks to adapt to your vision with new glasses after cataract surgery. This is normal, and is due to your brain adapting to a different prescription.