What is Cataracts?

If you develop a cataract, your lens becomes cloudy, affecting vision as though looking through a dirty car windshield. One of the leading causes of vision impairment, cataracts, cause things to look blurry, hazy or less colourful.

While cataracts generally arise in individuals who are older, they can grow in younger people as well. Most cataracts develop slowly over time. As a result, cataracts can introduce subtle loss of vision that may not be immediate.

Causes of Cataracts

Generally, cataracts occur when aging or injury alters the tissue that is your eye’s lens.

Some hereditary genetic disorders that trigger other health troubles can raise your risk of cataracts. Cataracts can also be triggered by other eye illnesses, past eye surgery or medical conditions such as diabetes. Be wary that long-term use of steroid medications can bring about cataracts to develop.

Symptoms of Cataracts

Common cataract symptoms include:

  • Blurry vision
  • Double vision
  • Developing extra sensitivity to light and glare
  • Poor night vision
  • Noticing you need extra lighting to see at night time than you previously needed
  • Seeing bright colours as dimmer, or a yellow shift in how you see colours

How to treat Cataracts

When symptoms start to emerge, eyesight may be enhanced using new eyeglasses, sturdier bifocals, magnification, proper lighting, or other visual aids. In more developed instances, cataract surgery is very effective in repairing sight.

Cataracts need to be assessed by a professional eyecare expert to ensure you have the right support in eyewear and should be carefully monitored on an ongoing basis, so that an appropriate referral for surgery can be made at the right time.

Click here to learn more about other eye conditions

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