Cataracts

What Are Cataracts?

A cataract is a build up of proteins in the lenses of your eyes, causing clouding of the vision and a stiffening of the lenses, which affects focus. As they continue to advance, your vision can deteriorate significantly.

What Are The Symptoms Of Cataracts

At first you may notice changes in the way you see colours, and strong light sources such as the sun or headlights may cause a flaring effect. These can progress to double vision, frequent prescription changes for your glasses, and progressively cloudier or filmier vision.

Prevention

There are three types of cataracts – two of which, congenital cataracts and traumatic cataracts, are not preventable. But secondary cataracts can be brought on earlier from prolonged exposure to radiation and UV light (including sunlight), conditions such as diabetes, taking some medications, and activities such as smoking.
It is best to avoid smoking, protect your eyes form the sun and maintain a healthy diet.

Risk Factors

Smoking can cause cataracts, as spending long hours in the sun without adequate eye protection. Diabetes and certain other conditions and medications also increase susceptibility. If any or all of these factors apply to you, the solution is regular eye health checks, especially after the age of 45.

Possible Treatment

These days cataract removal is fast, safe and incredibly effective. Your LASERSIGHT surgical team can excise your cataracts and insert an intraocular lens. This refractive lens exchange (RLE) can use either single vision lenses, or multifocals. At LASERSIGHT we focus on treating your cataracts, and reducing the need for glasses and contacts.

Diagnosis

There’s a four step process to diagnosing cataracts, the first being a simple visual examination of the lens. We will then proceed to a visual acuity test to see if and how your vision is affected. A dilated eye exam uses eye drops to open up your pupils to the maximum, and we use a special magnifying lens to inspect for damage or other eye conditions. Finally, we’ll numb your eyes with drops so we can get an accurate reading of the internal pressure of your eyes using tonometry.

What Causes Cataracts?

As noted, the causes can range from ageing to smoking and sun or UV light exposure, medications, and some health conditions.

How Can I Tell If I Have Cataracts

If you suspect that your vision is changing, or you have trouble focusing, book an appointment with LASERSIGHT and we’ll perform all the necessary tests and examinations.

How Can LASERSIGHT Help

Your LASERSIGHT team has skills, the equipment and the experience to diagnose cataracts and determine the most effective course of action.