

Do not wait for your cataract to reach this stage
Cataract is the clouding of the lens inside your eye. It can develop in one or both eyes at the same or different times. One eye can often be more affected than the other.
The crystalline lens is normally clear. It allows light to pass through to the back of your eye, helping you to see sharp images. If parts of the lens become cloudy (opaque), light cannot pass through the cloudy patches. With advancing age, these patches usually become bigger, and more of them develop. As less light is able to pass through the lens, your vision may become blurry or cloudy. The cloudier the lens becomes, the more your sight will be affected.
Cataract Vision
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What do you feel as cataract progresses? | ||||||||||||||
If your cataracts are mild, you may not notice any symptoms to start with. Blurred, cloudy or misty vision is the most common symptom of age-related cataracts. You may have small spots or dots in your vision - patches where your sight is not as clear. Your sight may be affected by the light. For example, you may find it more difficult to see:
Other ways that cataracts may affect your sight can include:
If you wear glasses, you may find that they have become less effective. Less commonly, you may see a halo (a circle of light) around bright lights such as car headlights or street lights. A rare symptom of cataracts is double vision (seeing two images of an object instead of one). |
Cataract Causes
What causes Cataract? |
The causes of age-related cataracts are not known. Research suggests that some factors may increase the risk that cataracts will develop. |
Changes to the lens in the eye |
As people grow older, there can be changes to the protein that makes up the lens in the eye resulting in clouding of the lens. |
Risk factors |
Research suggests that some factors may increase the risk of age-related cataracts developing. For example: |
Other causes |
In younger people, cataracts may have other less common causes. For example: |
Cataract Treatment
With the recent advances in cataract surgery, patients can get their cataracts operated upon when they feel difficulty in performing their daily work. It is a customised procedure with a wide array of Intraocular Lenses to choose from. |
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Cataracts are treated by having an operation to remove the cloudy lens in your eye and replacing it with an artificial clear lens. This is called an intraocular implant or intraocular lens (IOL). |
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The most common methods for removing cataracts include Phacoemulsification, Small Incision Cataract Surgery(SICS) and Extra capsular Catarct Extraction. |
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In most cases, cataract surgery does not require over night stay. It is usually performed as a “Day Care” procedure wherein the patient comes in for surgery after having put some antibiotic drops in his eyes over the last 1-3 days. |
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Just before the operation, drops to widen (dilate) your pupil will be applied to your eye. You will also be given a local anaesthetic. This may be applied to your eye as drops, although sometimes injections in the tissue around the eye may be used instead. |
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Once the anaesthetic takes effect, you will not be able to feel anything. While the operation is taking place, all you will be able to see is a bright light. You will not be able to see what is happening. |
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IOL options
Different types of replacement lens (IOLs) are available: |
Fixed strength lenses (monofocal) - set for one level of vision, usually distance vision. You will need a light glass or no glass for distance vision, whereas glasses will be required for near work always. |
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Multifocal lenses - allow two or more different strengths, such as near and distance vision. |
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Accommodating lenses - allow the eye to focus on both near and distant objects, in a similar way to the natural human lens. |
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Toric IOLs - are for those who have cylindrical power, also referred to as corneal astigmatism. Your Ophthalmologist will discuss with you what type of lens will suit you. |
What happens after your operation?
For most people, vision improves noticeably straightaway, although it may take a little while to settle down completely. The cut in the eye's surface is so small that it usually heals by itself, although sometimes a small stitch may be needed. |
Your doctor will probably advise you to take it easy, for example, by avoiding sports and any vigorous activities. When the operation is done, your plastic lens will be set up for a certain level of vision. After your operation, you will probably need to wear glasses, for example, to see objects that are: |
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If you wore glasses before, your prescription will probably change. It takes several weeks after the operation for your vision to settle down before your optician can give you a new prescription. |
Are there ways to prevent cataract? |
NO. It is not possible to prevent cataracts. |
However, there are some steps you can take to reduce the risk and rate of their developing. For example: |
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It is well-known that a healthy balanced diet is important for your general health - this includes your eyes. Eating a healthy diet cannot prevent cataracts, but some experts think that: |
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It is important to have your eyes tested regularly by an ophthalmologist, even if you do not wear glasses. This enables cataracts to be picked up early, as well as other eye conditions, such as Glaucoma and age-related macular degeneration. |
Other ocular and systemic ailments which complicate cataracts are: |
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Cataract Services:
Phacoemulsification with Multifocal IOL/Toric IOL, Femto Second Laser-Assisted Cataract Surgery (FLACS - Bladeless Cataract Surgery), IOL Master 700