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According to reports, it seems cataracts are extremely common, particularly to the older generation. In fact, it’s estimated that more than half of those over the age of 65 will have some kind of cataract development at one point or another. With this in mind, it can be very important to keep regular visits to your optometrist as you grow older, but you may also be asking yourself what causes this type of eye disease and what can be done to treat it? Here is a little information on cataracts: What causes cataracts in the first place? As we say, age plays a big role in the development of cataracts and it is usually older people who are diagnosed with them. Not everyone will suffer this type of condition in later life, but with the percentages so high it’s essential to get examined by an eye specialist as often as possible to check for things like age-related macular degeneration. This and other conditions can lead to cataracts, but in some cases they can appear after there has been an injury to the eye – which might be a chemical or electrical burn, exposure to some sort of radiation or a blow to the eye area. What are they? Inside the eye is a lens that sits behind our cornea. This lens helps to refract light onto the retina so that we can see objects at different distances. It is also used for giving a sharp image of the world around us and, while we are young at least, should remain perfectly clear. However, as we age, this part of the eye can become cloudy – and it is this discolouration that is referred to as a cataract. If this occurs in the eye, it becomes difficult for light to pass through, so images become less clear and vision becomes impaired. This can make writing, reading and other daily tasks we might take for granted become challenging. What can be done about them? Cataracts can occur in either or both eyes, but do not spread between the two or from one patient to another. However, if they do appear it is very important to get treatment as soon as you can as left untreated they can lead to blindness. At their earliest stage, no symptoms will be seen, but regular visits to the optometrist may mean they can be detected quickly. If there is a problem, you’ll be referred to the hospital, where an ophthalmologist will offer a second examination. If necessary, you may have to have cataract surgery, however this is a common procedure and usually takes around 30-45 minutes under local anaesthetic. Many eye problems like cataracts can be cured very easily, so it isn’t worth putting off that visit to the opticians.
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cataracts, eye problems, eye health, optician, optometrist, cornea, pupil, eye, eyecare, diabetes, macular degeneration,
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