What is a cataract?
Most cataracts are age-related. This is why cataracts are most common in older people.
The lens of the eye is naturally clear, but it can become cloudy over time. As this occurs, it restricts the amount of light that’s able to pass through the eye, thereby hindering vision.
You may not notice cataract symptoms at first. However, they will become worse over time as your vision deteriorates with age.
What causes cataracts?
There are two ways age-related cataracts develop:
Protein clusters reduce sharpness of the image.
The eye’s lens consists mainly of water and proteins, but when the protein clumps together over time, it clouds the lens and restricts the light reaching the retina. The protein clump grows larger in size with time, gradually reducing the quality of vision by making things duller and blurrier.
The lens discolours, leaving a brownish tint.
Although the eye’s lens is naturally clear, it can develop a brownish shade with age. Tinting is usually not noticeable at first. However, over time, it may make everyday activities more difficult to accomplish. For example, with advanced lens discoloration, you may have difficulty identifying blues and purples.
What are the symptoms of cataracts?
The most common symptoms of a cataract are:
- Poor night vision
- Colours seem faded
- Glare or a halo around lights
- Double vision or multiple images in one eye
- Cloudy or blurry vision (often described as 'milky' or 'hazy')
- Frequent prescription changes in your eyeglasses or contact lenses
These symptoms can also be a sign of other eye problems. If you experience any of the aforementioned symptoms, be sure to speak with your optometrist.
What are the risk factors for cataracts?
The natural aging of the eye eventually affects everyone, with cataract symptoms typically appearing between ages 60 and 70. However, because progression rates vary, it is by age 80 that more than half of all North Americans have developed a cataract or undergone surgery.
While the risk of cataracts increases with age, there are other factors that can influence the speed and severity of cataracts. Other risk factors for cataracts include:
- History of eye injury
- Certain diseases (i.e., diabetes)
- Lifestyle choices (smoking or alcohol use)
- Environment (prolonged exposure to ultraviolet sunlight)
Are cataracts reversible?
No. Unfortunately, there is no medication available to cure or reverse cataracts. Glasses and contact lenses offer a short-term solution, and can temporarily allow you to complete regular activities, like reading or driving. However, your cataracts will only get progressively worse over time. Glasses and contacts may not always be enough to improve your vision. For this reason, we recommend a prompt cataract lens replacement. Since cataracts become gradually worse with age and if left untreated, a lens replacement is the only way to prevent further damage and improve visual clarity.
How are cataracts treated?
An intraocular lens surgery or a cataract surgery is the only long-term solution to cataracts. It works by replacing the lens that’s affected by the cataract with a new, implanted intraocular lens (IOL). According to The Journal of the American Medical Association, Intraocular lens surgery is a very common and safe elective medical procedure.
Based on industry reports, over 50 million cataract surgeries have been performed worldwide.
At TLC Laser Eye Centres, we’re proud to offer a wide variety of intraocular lens procedures:
Refractive Cataract Surgery (RCS)
Refractive Lens Exchange (RLE)
Laser-Assisted Intraocular Surgery
Implantable Collamer® Lens (ICL)
In addition, we also offer a wide selection of replacement lenses that can also treat refractive errors in addition to cataracts, including myopia (nearsightedness), hyperopia (farsightedness), astigmatism, and presbyopia.
Discover if you're a candidate!
At your pre-operative consultation, our experts will evaluate your specific needs and desired outcome and will recommend a procedure to you accordingly. They will explain the details of the procedure, why it’s the best option for your situation, and what you can expect.