Cataracts are the leading cause of preventable blindness worldwide. There is no medical treatment to prevent the development or progression of cataracts. Cataract surgery, in which the cloudy lens is removed and a new clear lens is implanted, is the only treatment for cataracts. Cataract surgery is the most effective and most common procedure in medicine. This surgery generally has a high success rate when performed under the right conditions.
Cataracts often develop slowly, with a gradual decline in vision that cannot be corrected with glasses. Common complaints include blurred vision, difficulty reading in low light, poor night vision, glare and halos around lights, and sometimes double vision. Other signs include frequent changes in eyeglass prescription and a new ability to read without reading glasses in patients over 55.
There are different types of cataracts;
- Age (age-related cataracts)
- Congenital cataracts in newborns or young children.
- As a result of medication use.
- Long-term use of corticosteroids.
- In metabolic disorders such as diabetes.
- After trauma or radiation therapy.
- In other ophthalmic conditions such as glaucoma or after other eye surgery.
To diagnose possible cataracts, we can perform various tests on you:
- Objective and/or subjective eye examination.
- Vision test with your own glasses.
- Eye pressure measurement.
- Slit lamp examination.
If we have any doubts about the results, we will refer you to an ophthalmologist (via your GP) with the findings.
Do you have questions about cataracts or doubts about whether you are starting to develop cataracts? Feel free to drop by and we will see what we can do for you.
