Dr Parth Shah performs cataract surgery in Sydney for patients of all ages – from newborns to the elderly.The term ‘cataract’ is well known as an eye disorder that causes reduced vision.
Like a camera lens, the natural lens focuses light to create a sharp and clear image on the retina (the ‘film’ or ‘sensor’ part of the camera).When the natural lens is not crystal clear, light cannot be focused perfectly, and the result is a disturbance to vision.
The waste products have a yellow hue, which means the lens naturally becomes more and more yellow over time.
Advancing age is the most common cause of cataract.Apart from advancing age, the loss of transparency of the lens can be caused by:Diabetes mellitus, especially type I (juvenile diabetes)Taking steroid medications of any sort (steroid eye drops, nasal sprays, or by mouth)Exposure to ultraviolet, X-ray, laser or infrared lightInjury or trauma to the eye, including eye surgery for other reasonsInflammatory eye diseaseHigh near-sightedness (myopia)SmokingAlthough rare, babies can be born with cataracts.
Some of the most common symptoms are:Blurred, clouded or dim vision – even with glasses or contact lensesAltered colour perception – for example, vivid colours may seem fadedDifficulty with driving vision, especially at nightLights (sunlight and headlights) seem too bright, cause glare, or are surrounded by haloesDifficulty in dim lighting, and need for brighter lightFrequent changes to glasses or contact lens prescriptionThe degraded vision caused by cataracts can make it more difficult to read, watch TV and drive a car – especially at night time.
You get the impression of being dazzled by the light even if the vehicle is not on high beams!With cataract, adaptation to different light conditions and the light-dark transition can also create numerous difficulties in day-to-day life.These symptoms are usually very mild to start with, and gradually become more prominent when the cataract becomes cloudier with time.